SCOTLAND

Devolution: Scotland

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on the likely effect of the budget of the Scottish Parliament of the ending of end-year flexibility.

Michael Moore: I have regular discussions with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on a wide range of issues. The Government's priority is to deal with the deficit, and the end-year flexibility system has led to accumulated stocks of around £20 billion across the United Kingdom which would further increase the deficit if they were spent. The Government have therefore committed to abolish this system and to replace it with a new system which will provide flexibility while strengthening spending control. However, in recognition of the unique situation of the devolved Administrations, the Government have allowed Scotland to carry forward £130 million of agreed under spend from this year into next.

Devolution: Scotland

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the ending of end-year flexibility has been discussed with the Scottish Government in the Joint Ministerial Committee.

Michael Moore: I can confirm that the matter was discussed at the last Joint Ministerial Committee (Domestic) on 2 February 2011.

Firearms

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to his contribution of 7 March 2011,  Official Report, column 716, on the Scotland Bill, whether BB guns fall within the definition of air weapons which the Scottish Parliament will have the power to ban under the provisions of the Scotland Bill.

David Mundell: The term 'BB gun' is understood to be a type of airgun which fires a BB projectile through a smoothbore barrel. Since their muzzle energy is commonly so low as not to be lethal, BB guns and airsoft guns do not generally fall within the subject-matter of the Firearms Acts.
	The Scottish Parliament will be able to legislate in relation to BB guns following the passage of the Scotland Bill, subject to complying with any other relevant constraints on legislative competence.

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Human Trafficking: Females

Peter Bone: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues on the number of women victims of human traffickers who are subsequently re-trafficked.

Damian Green: holding answer 10 March 2011
	I have been asked to reply.
	I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues on a range of trafficking issues.
	We are committed to ensuring that victims of trafficking who voluntarily return to their home country get the support that they need to reintegrate effectively, and we work closely with non-governmental organisation (NGO) partners to achieve this.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what regulations his Department introduced between 2 February and 28 February 2011;
	(2)  what regulations his Department revoked between 2 February and 28 February 2011.

Hugo Swire: My Department introduced no statutory instruments in the period between 2 February and 28 February 2011.
	The Northern Ireland Office has responsibilities chiefly on constitutional, electoral and national security fields; they do not generally concern business regulation. My Department has not revoked any regulations during this period.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Oral Questions

Duncan Hames: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many questions for oral answer were entered into the shuffle for each of the three most recent question times for each Government Department and other answering body; and if the Commission will make arrangements for the routine publication of these figures.

John Thurso: The number of questions for oral answer which were entered into the shuffle for each of the three most recent question times for each Government Department and other answering body is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Department  Date of Question Time  Substantive  Topical  Total 
			 Attorney-General Tuesday 1 March 21 - 21 
			  Tuesday 18 January 46 - 46 
			  Tuesday 30 November 41 - 41 
			 Business, Innovation and Skills Thursday 17 February 145 130 275 
			  Thursday 13 January 151 140 291 
			  Thursday 18 November 145 115 260 
			 Cabinet Office Wednesday 2 March 119 - 119 
			  Wednesday 19 January 127 - 127 
			  Wednesday 24 November 114 -- 114 
			 Church Commissioners, Public Accounts Committee and Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission Tuesday 1 March 14 - 14 
			  Tuesday 18 January 15 - 15 
			  Tuesday 30 November 15 - 15 
			 Communities and Local Government Monday 28 February 126 115 241 
			  Monday 17 January 119 102 221 
			  Thursday 25 November 154 133 287 
			 Culture, Olympics, Media and Sports Thursday 3 March 126 116 242 
			  Thursday 20 January 122 105 227 
			  Monday 29 November 114 94 208 
			 Defence Monday 14 March 118 115 233 
			  Monday 31 January 129 126 255 
			  Monday 13 December 139 127 266 
			 Deputy Prime Minister Tuesday 1 March 87 90 177 
			  Tuesday 18 January 100 81 181 
			  Tuesday 30 November 80 84 164 
			 Education Monday 7 February 165 152 317 
			  Monday 20 December 130 119 249 
			  Monday 15 November 169 148 317 
			 Energy and Climate Change Thursday 10 February 118 113 231 
			  Thursday 16 December 80 70 150 
			  Thursday 11 November 125 114 239 
			 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Thursday 3 February 125 106 231 
			  Thursday 9 December 117 105 222 
			  Thursday 4 November 89 80 169 
			 Foreign and Commonwealth Tuesday 1 February 189 161 350 
			  Tuesday 14 December 165 159 324 
			  Tuesday 9 November 173 111 284 
			 Health Tuesday 8 March 155 132 287 
			  Tuesday 25 January 159 152 311 
			  Tuesday 7 December 162 154 316 
			 Home Office Monday 7 March 145 120 265 
			  Monday 24 January 215 186 401 
			  Monday 6 December 176 172 348 
			 International Development Wednesday 16 February 116 - 116 
			  Wednesday 12 January 98 - 98 
			  Wednesday 17 November 122 - 122 
			 Justice Tuesday 15 February 133 117 250 
			  Tuesday 11 January 55 67 122 
			  Tuesday 23 November 111 102 213 
			 Leader of the House, and House of Commons Commission Thursday 3 March 12 - 12 
			  Thursday 20 January 28 - 28 
			  Monday 29 November 10 - 10 
			 Northern Ireland Wednesday 9 February 67 - 67 
			  Wednesday 15 December 25 - 25 
			  Wednesday 10 November 41 - 41 
			 Prime Minister Wednesday 9 March 193 - 193 
			  Wednesday 2 March 221 - 221 
			  Wednesday 16 February 257 - 257 
			 Scotland Wednesday 9 March 40 - 40 
			  Wednesday 26 January 44 - 44 
			  Wednesday 1 December 44 - 44 
			 Transport Thursday 10 March 135 130 265 
			  Thursday 27 January 147 117 264 
			  Thursday 2 December 96 72 168 
			 Treasury Tuesday 8 February 244 243 487 
			  Tuesday 21 December 125 125 250 
			  Tuesday 16 November 208 195 403 
			 Wales Wednesday 2 February 62 - 62 
			  Wednesday 8 December 45 - 45 
			  Wednesday 3 November 40 - 40 
			 Women and Equalities Thursday 10 March 88 - 88 
			  Thursday 27 January 99 - 99 
			  Thursday 2 December 95 - 95 
			 Work and Pensions Monday 14 February 148 144 292 
			  Monday 10 January 140 130 270 
			  Monday 22 November 156 122 278 
		
	
	For departmental question times lasting one hour, 25 substantive and 10 topical questions are drawn in the shuffle. Fewer questions are drawn for departments and other answering bodies with shorter question times. Fifteen questions are drawn for Prime Minister's Questions.
	In response to the hon. Member's question the House of Commons Table Office will now provide weekly information on the Intranet on the number of hon. Members entered for each shuffle.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts: Finance

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effects on arts and cultural organisations of reduction in levels of expenditure by local authorities.

Jeremy Hunt: The Department's strategic bodies, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, Arts Council England and English Heritage, are monitoring the effects of the local authority budget decisions on arts and cultural organisations. We continue to monitor and assess proposals being made about changes to library services across England. Consideration by the Secretary of State of whether or not any statutory powers should be used to assess an authority's compliance with the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 will be made on a case-by-case basis and after careful consideration of all relevant facts and local circumstances.

BBC

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will meet the Chairman-designate of the BBC Trust to discuss the requirements of that post in respect of the oversight of BBC editorial guidelines relating to the UK's membership of the EU.

Jeremy Hunt: I have no plans to do so.
	The BBC's obligations on impartiality are set out in its charter and agreement. The details of the BBC charter and agreement can be found at:
	http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/about/how_we_govern/charter_and_agreement/
	The role specification makes clear that the chairman of the BBC Trust is required to ensure that
	"the BBC fulfils its responsibilities as outlined in the Royal Charter."

Broadband

Anna Soubry: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will put in place mechanisms to ensure the delivery of high-quality on-demand content to households which do not wish or cannot afford to pay for subscription services.

Edward Vaizey: At present, we are satisfied with the current arrangements which place an obligation on public service broadcasters to make available high-quality content and much of this can be accessed on-demand without any extra charge. People also need access to the infrastructure to connect to on-demand services and we announced earlier this year our plans to create a broadband infrastructure for our country that meets the needs of all its citizens and businesses, and that will stand comparison with anywhere in the world.

Broadband

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether tender documents for further contracts to provide high-speed broadband services are to be issued by individual local authorities.

Edward Vaizey: Local authorities in England will be the procuring authority. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland the respective devolved Administration will be co-ordinating local interest and determining the appropriate level of procurement.

Broadband: Lancashire

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions Broadband Delivery UK has had with Lancashire county council on its issue of tender documents for a contract for the provision of high-speed broadband.

Edward Vaizey: Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) has had a number of discussions with Lancashire county council about their tender documents once we were contacted and told of their intention to issue them. BDUK expects Lancashire county council to be submitting a bid as part of the Wave 2 process which would be considered in the same way as any other bid received as part of this process.

Broadcasting: Advertising

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent assessment he has made of the contribution of the broadcast advertising production sector to the economy.

Edward Vaizey: We do not hold data on the economic contribution of the broadcast advertising production sector. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport Creative Industries Economic Estimates does provide estimates of the advertising sector as a whole and the latest data shows that the advertising sector contributed 0.7% of total UK GVA in 2008.

Departmental Conditions of Employment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of his Department's adherence to each of the principles of good employment practice set out in the Cabinet Office publication Principles of Good Employment Practice.

Jeremy Hunt: The Department for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport recognises the importance and value of good employment practices in delivering public services. The voluntary Principles of Good Employment Practice are expected to be relevant in circumstances where Government's employees transfer to the contractor's work force. The principles were developed from discussions with trade unions and suppliers. In such circumstances, the Department should ensure that suppliers are aware of the principles and encourage application of the principles.
	To date, no assessment has been made since the issue of Procurement Policy Note: The Withdrawal of the Two-Tier Code Information Note 22/10 (17 December 2010). There will be a review of the application of the new principles through the Public Services Forum (PSF), a national forum chaired by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr Maude). The PSF brings together Government, public, private and voluntary sector employers and trade unions. The review will take place during 2011.

Internet: Young People

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what consultation his Department is undertaking on steps to address levels of internet addiction among young people.

Edward Vaizey: The Department for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport will not be undertaking any such consultation.

Olympic Games 2012: Berkshire

Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many contracts relating to the London 2012 Olympics have been awarded to businesses and organisations based in  (a) Reading West constituency,  (b) Reading and  (c) Berkshire; and what the monetary value is of each such contract.

Hugh Robertson: Information on businesses in the south-east of England that have directly supplied the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is available in the business section of the London 2012 website at the following link:
	www.london2012.com/get-involved/business-network/oda-suppliers/index.php
	Currently 42 businesses have been awarded contracts in Berkshire, with an estimated value of £ 17,456,470.35; of these, eight contracts were awarded to businesses in Reading with a value of £ 12,670,055.40 and four to businesses in the Reading West constituency valuing £1,387,094.58. These figures only account for the contracts awarded by the ODA to its own top tier of contractors (tier one contractors). The figures do not include the value of contracts further down the supply chain, in tiers two, three and so on, which are awarded by the tier one contractors and not by the ODA. The ODA estimates that the total value of supply chain contracts to the regions runs into millions of pounds, but these are not public procurements and so the full value of contracts won across the UK is not captured by the figures provided. The ODA estimates that overall up to 50,000 contracts will be generated throughout its supply chains.
	The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) is a private company, as such we do not record details of contracts awarded by LOCOG.

EDUCATION

Academies

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  by what date he expects schools graded good by Ofsted to be able to apply for academy status;
	(2)  what criteria he plans to use to determine the schools which will be first to be invited to apply for academy status;
	(3)  what account he plans to take of the  (a) contextual value added by and  (b) the financial position of a school in determining which schools are next to be invited to apply for academy status.

Nick Gibb: We want to give all schools that wish to do so the opportunity to become academies. Schools rated as Outstanding and schools rated as Good with one or more Outstanding features in their most recent Ofsted inspection can already apply to become an academy in their own right.
	All schools can apply as part of a chain where at least one school in the chain is either outstanding or good with outstanding features. In addition to the Ofsted inspection applications are considered according to a range of factors including whether there is a substantial budget deficit and plans to support a weaker school.

Children: Disability

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding will be available to local authorities for the provision of disabled children's services in  (a) 2011,  (b) 2012 and  (c) 2013.

Sarah Teather: We have announced that £800 million of funding will be provided to local authorities through the new early intervention grant (EIG) over the spending review period (£198 million in 2011-12; £202 million in 2012-13; £206 million in 2013-14; and £210 million in 2014-15).
	The new early intervention grant (EIG) has been set up to provide funding to local authorities to support early intervention and preventative services for children, young people and their families. It is not ring fenced.
	It will be for local authorities to determine how they use that resource to best effect, including what services would be funded for families with disabled children.

Connexions: Finance

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding his Department allocated to Connexions in  (a) 2008-09,  (b) 2009-10 and  (c) 2010-11.

Nick Gibb: The budget totals for Connexions are as follows:
	
		
			   £ million 
			  (a) 2008-09 468.732 
			  (b) 2009-10 466.732 
			  (c) 2010-11 466.732

Curriculum

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  which subjects will be considered under his Department's National Curriculum review;
	(2)  who he has appointed to lead his Department's reviews of each National Curriculum subject;
	(3)  what arrangements are in place to encourage members of the public to contribute to the National Curriculum review.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 18 January 2011
	Details of the review of the National Curriculum, including its scope, timetable and how it will be led and managed, were given by the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend, in a written ministerial statement issued on 20 January 2011,  Official Report, column 47WS. Further detail is available in the remit for the review which has been placed in the House Libraries.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 14 February 2011,  Official Report, column 558W, on education maintenance allowance: Ashton-in-Makerfield, for what reason the education maintenance allowance was withdrawn before a full equality impact assessment was undertaken in respect of the replacement scheme.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 28 February 2011
	In reaching the decision to end the EMA scheme we focused on the evaluation evidence and other research, which indicates that EMA is not targeted on young people who most need financial support to enable them to participate in education.
	Discussions on distributional impacts, including impacts on equality, informed the process for spending review discussions and decisions, and the Department for Education worked closely with HM Treasury to assess the impact on different sections of society.
	We are replacing the education maintenance allowance with a new learner support fund so that we can target support more closely to those students facing genuine financial barriers to participation.
	A full equality impact assessment for the introduction of the new learner support funding will be published in due course, once final arrangements for the operation of the new fund have been developed.

Education Maintenance Allowance: Somerset

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many students at Bridgwater college and Strode college  (a) in total and  (b) resident in Wells constituency receive weekly education maintenance allowance payments of (i) £10, (ii) £20 and (iii) £30.

Nick Gibb: This is a matter for the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) who operate the education maintenance allowance for the Department for Education. Peter Lauener, the YPLA's chief executive, has written to the hon. Member for Wells with the information requested and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Libraries.
	 Letter from Peter Lauener dated 14 February 2011:
	I am writing in response to your Parliamentary Question PQ39224 that asked:
	"How many students at Bridgwater College and Strode College (a) in total and (b) resident in Wells constituency receive weekly education maintenance allowance payments of (i) £10, (ii) £20 and (iii) £30."
	Information on the number of young people who have received Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is available for upper tier local authorities but not by constituency.
	EMA take-up is defined as young people who have received one or more EMA payments in the academic year.
	The table below shows as at 25 January 2011 the take-up for the 2010/11 academic year in total and broken down by payment bands for Bridgwater and Strode Colleges and Somerset Local Authority.
	
		
			  As at 25 January2011  EMA Take-up  £10  £20  £30 
			 Bridgwater College 1,862 141 (7.6%) 200 (10.7%) 1,521 (81.7%) 
			 Strode College 703 52 (7.4%) 79 (11.2%) 572 (81.4%) 
			 Somerset LA 5,870 508 (8.6%) 644 (11%) 4,718 (80.4%) 
		
	
	EMA take-up data showing the number of young people who have received one or more EMA payments during 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09 and 2009/10 is available on the YPLA website at the following address:
	http://ema.ypla.gov.uk/resources/research/takeup/

Education: Finance

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Education for what purposes he has allocated funding from the public purse to  (a) the Specialist Schools and Academic Trust and  (b) the National College for School Leadership; and what tasks have been completed as a result of the provision of such funding.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 11 February 2011
	 The information is as follows:
	 (a) The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) is an independent charity which derives its income from a range of sources. The Department has grant funded SSAT to support the Specialist Schools and Academies programmes. SSAT's work has included helping schools to meet the standards of the Specialist Schools programme and developing networks of specialist schools and academies. SSAT has also won a number of contracts from the Department in open competition. These relate mainly to the provision of school improvement services. Details of SSAT's income from all sources are available in SSAT's published accounts, which are available on the Charity Commission website.
	 (b) The National College website contains full details of their activities and funding in annual reports and accounts for current and previous years, see:
	www.nationalcollege.org.uk
	The college has three broad objectives: (i) to ensure a strong supply of school leaders; (ii) to improve the quality of school and children's centres leadership, and (iii) to identify and deploy the best leaders to support struggling schools. Evidence shows that:
	150,000 leaders have participated in the college's programmes since 2000, and that
	schools which engage in the college's programmes improve faster than those that do not, with the most engaged schools improving fastest.

Employment Schemes: Young People

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding his Department allocated to the January Guarantee in  (a) 2008-09,  (b) 2009-10 and  (c) 2010-11.

Nick Gibb: The January Guarantee offered any 16 or 17-year-old who was not in education, employment or training (NEET) in January 2010 a place on an Entry to Employment Programme. The January Guarantee did not operate in any other year.
	£40 million was made available to deliver the January Guarantee. This included funding for 10,000 additional Entry to Employment places, education maintenance allowance for those young people who were eligible, and advice and support for young people to find a suitable opportunity. The funding covered the costs incurred in both the 2009-10 and 2010-11 financial years; for example, where young people were offered places that continued beyond March 2010.

Free Schools

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  how many staff of his Department  (a) in total and  (b) in full-time equivalent terms are assigned to the Free Schools Team;
	(2)  how many civil servants in his Department have been allocated to work on free schools.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 3 February 2011
	As at 15 February 2011, there are 97 people employed in the Free Schools Group. This is equivalent to 94.92 FTE (full-time equivalent) people.

Further Education

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will take steps to increase the number of 14 and 15-year-olds taking further education courses; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: We expect the vast majority of 14 and 15-year-olds to follow the National Curriculum and take GCSEs and, where appropriate, other qualifications at level 2. In her report, published on 3 March, Professor Alison Wolf recommended that the Government make explicit the legal right of further education colleges to enrol young people under 16, and ensure that funding procedures make this practically possible. She also stressed the importance of a core academic programme for all young people to the age of 16, regardless of the type of educational institution they are attending. We are currently considering all of Professor Wolf's recommendations and will publish a Government response in the spring.

Grammar Schools

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent estimate he has made of the proportion of secondary school children who attend selective schools.

Nick Gibb: In 2010, there were 164 wholly selective secondary schools in England. The percentage of all state-funded secondary school pupils attending these schools was 4.9%.

Members: Correspondence

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to respond to the letters from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay of 13 December 2010 and 12 January 2011 on his constituent Miss Hannah Kelly.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 28 February 2011
	The Minister of State for Children and Families, the hon. Member for Brent Central (Sarah Teather), replied on 5 March.

Music: Education

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on a potential link between participation in music lessons and attainment in mathematics by children and young people.

Nick Gibb: Research commissioned by the Department for Education from the Institute of Education shows that quality music education improves behaviour, attention and concentration and has a hugely positive affect on numeracy and language skills. From an analysis of available evidence the Institute of Education concluded that active engagement with music can improve mathematical performance. Ensuring all young people have the best possible music education will help the Government achieve our twin aims of driving up standards and reducing the attainment gap.

Postgraduate Education: Finance

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he intends to inform providers of Postgraduate Certificate of Education courses of the  (a) funding and  (b) criteria for funding for the year beginning in September 2011.

Nick Gibb: The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), wrote to the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) on 31 January 2011 to notify them of the national initial teacher training place allocations and financial incentive arrangements for trainees for academic year 2011/12. We have confirmed that eligible graduates starting Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) courses in that academic year will receive £9,000 training bursaries in the subjects of physics, chemistry, engineering and mathematics and £6,000 bursaries in biology, combined/general science and modern foreign languages.
	The TDA has now given initial teacher training providers the details of their training place allocations for 2011/12.

Pre-school Education: Finance

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent discussions he has had with representatives of  (a) playgroups and  (b) providers of early years care on their ability to provide each child with 15 hours of care a week; if he will assess the merits of allowing such providers to request top-up payments from parents to cover any additional costs; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah Teather: holding answer 14 December 2010
	Good quality early education helps tackle disadvantage and improve children's life chances. We announced in the spending review that funding has been protected so that all three and four-year-olds will continue to receive 15 hours per week of free nursery education, and that this will be extended to every disadvantaged two-year-old from 2013.
	Fairness is at the heart of the Government's agenda. Local authorities have a statutory duty-under section 7 of the Childcare Act-to secure nursery places free of charge, effectively prohibiting top-up fees. This ensures that there are no barriers to accessing the benefits of nursery education for all children, but particularly the most disadvantaged. Parents are free to purchase additional hours and services outside of the hours for which providers receive funding from local authorities.
	Many providers up and down the country are offering an excellent service to parents and their children within existing funding levels. The Government are listening to the views of early years providers and their representative bodies concerning funding issues. The Government are seeking to improve the efficiency with which funding is distributed to providers, through the Early Years Single Funding Formula (EYSFF) reforms, as well as reducing bureaucratic burdens on providers who deliver free nursery education. Many providers will also be benefiting from other support that local authorities provide for early learning and care. Providers will want to take into account this whole package of support before deciding whether delivering free places fits with their business model.

Pupil Numbers: Home Education

Pat Glass: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 24 January 2011,  Official Report, column 26W, on home education: Durham, if he will put in place a mechanism to collect information on the number of home-schooled children.

Nick Gibb: We are still considering in detail our approach to home education and whether any changes need to be made to the existing arrangements.

Pupils: Disadvantaged

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to the Young People's Learning Agency 16 - 19 Funding Statement, which areas will be entitled to the £150 million additional funding for young people in disadvantaged areas in 2011-12; and to how much funding each area will be entitled.

Nick Gibb: The £150 million of redirected funding will help increase the total funding in the national funding formula which addresses student deprivation to almost £770 million in 2011/12; an increase of more than one-third from 2010/11. This funding will be allocated through the disadvantage uplift and Additional Learner Support elements of the funding formula. It is not possible at present to say which geographical areas, or how much each area, will receive of this deprivation funding as this will not be known until the funding allocations for 2011/12 are finalised and communicated to providers by the end of March.

Pupils: Disadvantaged

Nick Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what consideration he has given to allocating funding through the pupil premium to schools in which a significant proportion of children are members of families whose leave to remain in the UK precludes them from recourse to public funds.

Nick Gibb: The deprivation pupil premium for 2011-12 will be allocated to local authorities and schools with pupils that are known to be eligible for free school meals as recorded on the January 2011 school census, pupil referral unit census and alternative provision census. Each pupil known to be eligible for free school meals will attract £430 of funding which will go to the school or academy, via the local authority or YPLA if the pupil is in a mainstream setting, or will be managed by the responsible local authority if the pupil is in a non-mainstream setting. We aim to extend the coverage of the pupil premium from 2012-13 onwards to pupils who have previously been known to be eligible for free school meals.
	Children whose parents are in receipt of one of the following are entitled to receive free school meals and, as a result, will be eligible for the pupil premium:
	Income support (IS)
	Income based job seeker's allowance (IBJSA)
	An income-related employment and support allowance
	Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
	Child tax credit (provided they are not entitled to working tax credit) and have an annual income which from 6 April 2010 does not exceed £16,190 as assessed by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs(1)
	Guarantee element of state pension credit.
	Children who receive IS or IBJSA in their own right are also entitled to receive free school meals.
	We have considered what other criteria might be used for allocating the pupil premium within the necessary timeframe. Determining eligibility for families who do not have recourse to public funds is not currently feasible due to legal and cost barriers in accessing data concerning such families in a useable format. If the family has no recourse to public funds and is unable to claim free school meals then they will not be eligible for the pupil premium.
	(1) Where a parent is entitled to working tax credit during the four-week period immediately after their employment ceases, or after they start to work less than 16 hours per week, their children are entitled to free school lunches.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the average level of funding per pupil in  (a) Barnet local education authority area and  (b) London in 2011-12.

Nick Gibb: In 2011-12, Barnet will receive a guaranteed unit of funding per pupil of £5,642, including £725 for specific grants that have been mainstreamed into the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG). The London average guaranteed unit of funding per pupil is £6,290.
	The final DSG allocations for local authorities will be based on the January 2011 pupil count and will be published in summer 2011.

Schools: Capital Investment

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which schools other than academies had rebuilding programmes  (a) authorised and  (b) funded since his statement to the House on 5 July 2010,  Official Report, columns 47-73, and the publication of further details on 12 July 2010; and if he will include details for each non-academy school named in the further list published on 6 August 2010.

Nick Gibb: The question requests details of schools  (a) authorised and  (b) funded since the statement of 5 July 2010,  Official Report, columns 47-73. Project authorisation is confirmed through the approval of the final business case, at which point a promissory note is issued. This is also the point at which the funding is finalised and agreed.
	We have therefore defined  (a) and  (b) as the approval of schools at final business case after 5 July 2010 that have been given a commitment to fund through a promissory note.
	There are 80 non-academy schools that have been given such approval and information is provided as follows. Some schools have been renamed since the publication of details on 12 July 2010. The table is correct as at 11 February 2011 and reflects the current name of each school.
	
		
			  Authority  School name 
			 Barking and Dagenham Dagenham Park Church Of England School 
			 Barking and Dagenham Sydney Russell School 
			 Barnsley New School-Kingstone/Holgate 
			 Barnsley New School-Foulstone/Wombwell 
			 Barnsley St Michael's Faith Advanced Learning Centre 
			 Birmingham The International School and Community College East Birmingham 
			 Birmingham Park View Business and Enterprise School 
			 Birmingham Saltley School-A specialist science college 
			 Blackburn Witton Park High School 
			 Blackburn Blakewater College and Crosshill Special School 
			 Blackpool Highfield Humanities College 
			 Blackpool Mountford Centre 
			 Blackpool St Mary's Catholic College 
			 Camden South Camden Community 
			 Camden Swiss Cottage Special School 
			 Derby City Derby Moor 
			 Derby City Noel Baker 
			 Derby City St Martin's 
			 Durham St Bede's Catholic Comprehensive School and Byron College 
			 Ealing Cardinal Wiseman Roman Catholic School 
			 Ealing Dormers Wells High School 
			 Greenwich Plumstead Manor 
			 Greenwich Eltham Hill 
			 Hackney Haggerston 
			 Hackney Cardinal Pole (RC) 
			 Hackney Our Lady Convent 
			 Hartlepool Dyke House Sports and Technology College 
			 Hertfordshire Lonsdale School 
			 Hertfordshire Marriotts 
			 Hertfordshire The Noble School 
			 Islington Elizabeth Garrett Anderson 
			 Islington Islington Arts and Media 
			 Knowsley New SEN Facility to replace Springfield and Elms special Schools 
			 Knowsley Highfield SEN 
			 Lambeth Dunraven (Foundation Mixed) Secondary School 
			 Lambeth Lilian Bayliss 
			 Lambeth Norwood 
			 Leeds Corpus Christi (RC) + SILC 
			 Leeds Farnley Park High + SILC 
			 Lewisham Addey and Stanhope 
			 Lewisham Deptford Green 
			 Lewisham Prendergast-Hilly Fields College 
			 Lewisham Prendergast-Vale College 
			 Lewisham Bonus Pastor RC 
			 Lewisham New ASD School (Pendragon) 
			 Luton Ashcroft High 
			 Luton Lealands 
			 Manchester Inclusion Centre(s)/PRU (Gorton EV, Chorlton, Burnage, Newall Green Inclusion Centres) 
			 Middlesbrough Oakfields Community School 
			 Newham Langdon 
			 North Lincolnshire FTC Performing Arts College 
			 Oldham New RC School (The Blessed John Henry Newman RC College) 
			 Oldham North Chadderton 
			 Sandwell Alexandra High 
			 Sandwell Batman's Hill PRU 
			 Sandwell North KS3 PRU 
			 Sandwell Oldbury 
			 Sandwell Wodensborough 
			 Sheffield City 
			 Sheffield Fir Vale 
			 Sheffield King Edward VII Lower 
			 Sheffield King Edward VII Upper 
			 Sheffield Stocksbridge 
			 Somerset Chilton Trinity 
			 Somerset Elmwood 
			 Somerset Robert Blake 
			 Southwark Sacred Heart-Southwark 
			 Southwark Spa 
			 Southwark St Thomas the Apostle College 
			 St Helens De La Salle School 
			 St Helens Rainford High Technology College 
			 Stoke Reach Short Stay School (Trent Vale) 
			 Tower Hamlets Bowden House 
			 Tower Hamlets PRU-Tower Hamlets 
			 Tower Hamlets Raines Foundation 
			 Tower Hamlets Swanlea 
			 Westminster College Park 
			 Wolverhampton Coppice Performing Arts School 
			 Wolverhampton Wednesfield High School 
			 Wolverhampton The Braybrook Centre

Schools: Finance

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Education on what date he expects his Department's capital expenditure in schools from March 2012 to be published.

Nick Gibb: The Department expects to publish school capital allocations for 2012-13 by December. Details of allocations from 2012-13 will depend on the outcome of the Capital Review, but overall allocations are expected to be broadly in line with those for 2011-12.

Schools: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much capital funding has been allocated by his Department for school building, repair and maintenance to each local authority area in each year from 2011-12 to 2015-16.

Nick Gibb: On 13 December 2010, the Secretary of State for Education announced over £2 billion of capital allocations to local authorities and schools for new pupil places and to address their capital maintenance needs in 2011-12. Details of these allocations by each local authority area can be found on the Department's website. Further allocations will be made for 2012-13 until 2014-15 in the light of the outcome of the capital review which the Secretary of State launched last year and which is expected to report shortly.
	In addition to the funding already announced, funding will be provided, for example, for those Building Schools for the Future and academy projects that are continuing, to ensure the projects' completion.

Schools: Vocational Guidance

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what mechanism he plans to establish to ensure that schools deliver a professional and individualised careers services to pupils seeking to enter higher education.

John Hayes: The coalition Government are committed to improving the quality and consistency of information for prospective university students. We want applicants to be able to easily understand what a course will cost, what it will contain and where it might lead. To ensure pupils make well-informed choices about their options at 18, they need access to impartial careers advice that is independent of any organisation with a vested interest and underpinned by objective information and data. That is why schools working in partnership with expert, independent careers advisers will be at the heart of our new arrangements for careers guidance. Both strong leadership and a work force of the highest calibre are needed to guarantee a consistent level of professional expertise. We are therefore working with the Careers Profession Alliance to establish common professional standards and a code of ethics and to ensure that careers qualifications include an appropriate focus on the essentials of careers guidance.

Students: Finance

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the average cost to the public purse of educating a pupil in  (a) England and  (b) London was in each of the last three years.

Nick Gibb: The available information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Net school-based expenditure (excluding pre-primary) per pupil in England and local authorities in London from 2007-08 to 2009-10 
			   Total school-based expenditure (excluding pre-primary) per pupil 
			   2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 England 4,210 4,460 4,610 
			 Barking and Dagenham 4,710 4,920 5,010 
			 Barnet 4,620 4,900 5,160 
			 Bexley 4,180 4,520 4,590 
			 Brent 4,990 5,350 5,460 
			 Bromley 4,070 4,300 4,480 
			 Camden 5,900 6,220 6,430 
			 City of London 6,240 7,530 6,890 
			 Croydon 4,340 4,620 4,750 
			 Ealing 4,810 4,970 5,270 
			 Enfield 4,670 4,990 5,150 
			 Greenwich 5,370 5,870 5,850 
			 Hackney 5,890 6,470 6,490 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 5,550 5,820 6,060 
			 Haringey 5,130 5,500 5,690 
			 Harrow 4,560 4,770 4,940 
			 Havering 4,320 4,450 4,620 
			 Hillingdon 4,650 4,830 4,970 
			 Hounslow 4,700 4,970 5,080 
			 Islington 5,600 6,140 6,450 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 5,940 6,240 6,220 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 4,470 4,620 4,770 
			 Lambeth 5,710 6,210 6,640 
			 Lewisham 5,480 5,880 6,070 
			 Merton 4,220 4,550 4,640 
			 Newham 5,170 5,580- 5,810 
			 Redbridge 4,310 4,550 4,700 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 4,300 4,470 4,560 
			 Southwark 5,860 6,160 6,390 
			 Sutton 4,220 4,420 4,590 
			 Tower Hamlets 6,540 6,990 7,070 
			 Waltham Forest 4,870 5,100 5,290 
			 Wandsworth 5,640 6,100 6,240 
			 Westminster 5,460 5,780 5,890 
			  Notes: 1. School-based expenditure includes only expenditure incurred directly by the schools. This includes the pay of teachers and school-based support staff, school premises costs, books and equipment, and certain other supplies and services, less any capital items funded from recurrent spending and income from sales, fees and charges and rents and rates. This excludes the central cost of support services such as home to school transport, local authority administration and the financing of capital expenditure. 2. Pupil numbers include only those pupils attending maintained establishments within each sector and are drawn from the DfE annual schools census adjusted to be on a financial year basis. 3. Financial information used in this answer is taken from the DfE section 251 outturn statements. 4. Figures are rounded to the nearest £10. Cash terms figures as reported by local authorities as at 14 February 2011.

Teachers: Training

Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for in-school teacher training; and if he will take steps to safeguard the Graduate Teach scheme in Tees Valley district.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 4 February 2011
	The Secretary of State for Education wrote to the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) on 31 January 2011 to notify them of the national initial teacher training place targets for academic year 2011/12. The TDA has written to training providers with detailed allocations for 2011/12 including those for the Graduate Teacher Programme in the Tees Valley. These allocations have seen small increases for both the primary and secondary phases. As set out in the Schools White Paper 2010, 'The Importance of Teaching', our intention is that there should be an increasing emphasis on school-led training, for example through Teach First and Teaching Schools.

Teaching Methods: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the performance in  (a) Peterborough and  (b) other locations of the (i) Every Child Counts and (ii) Every Child a Reader programme; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: We have not carried out analysis on a local authority basis of the Every Child a Reader (ECaR) and Every Child Counts (ECC) programmes.
	Regular management information on the programmes is collected and shared by the Institute of Education and Edge Hill university, who deliver training for ECaR and ECC respectively. Edge Hill university has recently published its annual management report on ECC at:
	http://www.edgehill.ac.uk/everychildcounts/general/Impact.html
	Independent evaluations are currently under way for both programmes, with final reports expected to be with the Department by the end of March.

Vocational Education Review

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to his letter of 9 September 2010 to Alison Wolf, what plans he has to publish Alison Wolf's interim report on vocational education.

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Education by what date he expects the Wolf Review of vocational education to report.

Nick Gibb: The Wolf Review of Vocational Education reported on 3 March 2011. The Government are very grateful to Professor Wolf for such a valuable piece of work. We are now considering her recommendations and will publish a formal response this spring.

Vocational Guidance

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he plans to take to monitor the quality of careers advice procured by schools for young people.

Nick Gibb: Through the Education Bill, schools will be placed under a duty to secure access to independent, impartial careers guidance for all pupils aged 13 to 16. A new national quality standard for careers guidance providers will serve as an indicator of quality for schools who will be free to determine how best to fulfil the new duty, based on their understanding of the needs of their pupils.
	We will put in place a strong accountability system to ensure that schools are helping all their pupils to prepare for successful progress post-16. We are reforming performance tables to remove perverse incentives for schools to encourage pupils to pursue courses that are of little or no value. In addition, we are developing a Key Stage 4 Destination Measure to show young people and parents what a school's former pupils go on to do at age 17.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to answer question 42085, on regulations, tabled on 16 February 2011 for answer on 28 February 2011.

Tim Loughton: A response to the hon. Member's question was issued on 14 March 2011,  Official R eport, columns 44-46W.

JUSTICE

Civil Proceedings: Legal Costs

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for what reasons he has not accepted the recommendations of Sir Rupert Jackson and others to abrogate the indemnity principle in response to the consultation on the Green Paper, Proposals for Reform of Civil Litigation Funding and Costs in England and Wales; and if he will reverse his decision.

Jonathan Djanogly: As indicated in the Ministry of Justice consultation paper 'Proposals for Reform of Civil Litigation Funding and Costs in England and Wales-Implementation of Lord Justice Jackson's Recommendations', published on 15 November 2010, the Government are not persuaded that it is necessary to abrogate the indemnity principle and are therefore not proposing any further work on it at this stage.

Community Orders

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average hourly cost to the public purse is of supervising an individual on unpaid work on  (a) Mondays to Fridays (i) during the day and (ii) during the evening,  (b) Saturdays and  (c) Sundays in respect of (A) group and (B) individual placements.

Crispin Blunt: The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) is developing systems to breakdown current expenditure on a service by service basis, including unpaid work (also known as community payback). Once the information has been reviewed and validated, we will then consider how best to use it to meet commitments under the Government's Transparency Agenda.
	The NOMS Specification, Benchmarking and Costing (SBC) Programme is creating specifications to be used in commissioning the services NOMS funds. This includes work to support benchmarking by estimating how much it should cost to deliver each service.
	Using fieldwork undertaken in 2009, the average approximate hourly cost of supervising an individual sentenced to unpaid work, excluding the cost of commencing the sentence, and rounded to the nearest pound, is estimated to be:
	For group placements, £9 on weekdays (average of daytime and evenings) and £11 on weekends, and for individual placements, £5 per hour irrespective of the timing of the placement.
	More information, including an explanation of how these figures are derived of is available at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/about/directory-services.htm

Community Orders

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average hourly pay rate is of supervisors of unpaid work in  (a) London and  (b) the rest of England and Wales.

Crispin Blunt: Probation staff are employed by the 35 probation trusts. As such, actual pay is set by a combination of a local trust's pay scale, and the level of experience of the individual member of staff.
	Further, trusts decide which grades of staff are responsible for the delivery of unpaid work.
	NOMS does not collect information on average pay rates for the supervision of unpaid work on a consistent basis.

Criminal Injuries Compensation

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he plans to bring forward proposals for reform of the criminal injuries compensation scheme.

Kenneth Clarke: The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme is currently subject to review.
	We will bring forward proposals once the review has been concluded.

Departmental Land

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will takes steps to reduce the size of his Department's estate; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is reducing the size of its estate in order to provide flexibility in the way that people work and help reduce costs. There are a number of projects currently under way, including:
	reducing the size of the Department's Estate by decreasing the number of central London HQ buildings from 18 to 4;
	the closure of HMP Lancaster Castle and HMP Ashwell and the change of use of HMP Morton Hall to an immigration removal centre (IRC);
	the closure of 142 magistrates and county courts, which will significantly reduce the court service estate;
	the reduction of the probation estate by taking advantage of lease breaks to exit properties and consolidate staff into a smaller number of buildings, and encouraging co-location of other related departments and flexible work space arrangements.

Disability Living Allowance: Tribunals

Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many appeal tribunal cases relating to disability living allowance were heard in  (a) Reading West constituency,  (b) Reading and  (c) Berkshire in each of the last 10 years.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Tribunals Service only holds data relating to its Social Security and Child Support (SSCS) jurisdiction from and including the 2007/8 business year. Prior to this date, the information was held on the SSCS's previous case management system and is no longer accessible to the Tribunals Service. The data from 2007-08 is recorded against the tribunal venue where an appeal is heard.
	The number of DLA appeals heard in  (b) Reading is shown in the following table. The number of appeals held in  (c) Berkshire is the same as  (b) as Reading is the only SSCS tribunal venue in this county.
	Appeals for people living in Reading and in Berkshire are not necessarily heard in Reading.
	
		
			  Disability living allowance cases heard in Reading 
			   Number 
			 April 2007 33 
			 May 2007 45 
			 June 2007 51 
			 July 2007 31 
			 August 2007 26 
			 September 2007 34 
			 October 2007 21 
			 November 2007 27 
			 December 2007 22 
			 January 2008 28 
			 February 2008 21 
			 March 2008 22 
			 2007-08 361 
			   
			 April 2008 18 
			 May 2008 22 
			 June 2008 16 
			 July 2008 23 
			 August 2008 20 
			 September 2008 25 
			 October 2008 19 
			 November 2008 11 
			 December 2008 17 
			 January 2009 21 
			 February 2009 16 
			 March 2009 17 
			 2008-09 225 
			   
			 April 2009 16 
			 May 2009 25 
			 June 2009 14 
			 July 2009 17 
			 August 2009 17 
			 September 2009 26 
			 October 2009 22 
			 November 2009 42 
			 December 2009 25 
			 January 2010 26 
			 February 2010 24 
			 March 2010 37 
			 2009-10 291 
			   
			 April 10 2 
			 May 2010 13 
			 June 2010 16 
			 July 2010 20 
			 August 2010 19 
			 September 2010 32 
			 October 2010 11 
			 November 2010 16 
			 December 2010 22 
			 January 2011 23 
			 2010-11 174 
		
	
	The Tribunals Service can provide data for the number of DLA appeals where the appellant gave an address in the Reading (RG) postcode area. It will take approximately one week for this data to be extracted from the database and when this information is complete, the data will be placed in the Library of the House.

Employment Tribunals Service

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many employment tribunal cases were heard in each region between 2008 and 2010.

Jonathan Djanogly: The information in the following table shows the number of jurisdictional cases that were heard in each employment tribunal office and region for the complete financial years 2008-09, 2009-10 and the quarters 1 and 2 of 2010-11 (April-September 2010). For the purposes of this question, the term 'hearing' includes case management discussions, pre-hearing reviews, merits hearings, review hearings and, where necessary, remedy hearings.
	
		
			  Number of employment tribunal cases by region 
			  Hearings 
			  Northern region 
			   2008-09  2009-10  2010-11( 1) 
			 
			  Midlands
			 Birmingham 3,400 3,900 2,100 
			 Leicester(2) 820 930 500 
			 Nottingham(2) 1,300 1,100 120 
			 Shrewsbury 720 270 13 
			 Area total 6,200 6,300 2,800 
			 
			  North East and North West
			 Leeds 2,200 2,400 1,200 
			 Liverpool 1,300 1,300 630 
			 Manchester 3,000 3,500 1,600 
			 Newcastle 3,800 3,900 1,800 
			 Sheffield 720 950 520 
			 Area total 11,000 12,100 5,800 
			 
			  Scotland
			 Aberdeen 290 390 220 
			 Dundee 220 280 170 
			 Edinburgh 550 710 370 
			 Glasgow 1,700 1,900 1,000 
			 Area total 2,800 3,300 1,800 
			 
			 Regional total 20,100 21,700 10,300 
		
	
	
		
			  Hearings 
			  Southern  region 
			   2008-09  2009-10  2010-11( 1) 
			  Central London
			 London Central 3,500 3,600 1,800 
			 Area total 3,500 3,600 1,800 
			 
			  Greater London and South East
			 Ashford 960 1,100 620 
			 Bedford 860 1,100 500 
			 Bury St Edmunds 880 1,000 470 
			 London South 2,700 2,900 1,500 
			 Reading 1,000 1,300 740 
			 East London 1,400 1,500 960 
			 Watford 1,500 1,900 1,100 
			 Area total 9,200 10,900 5,900 
			 
			  Wales and South West
			 Bristol 1,300 1,700 940 
			 Wales 1,300 1,900 1,100 
			 Exeter 1,100 1,300 630 
			 Southampton 1,600 1,700 1,100 
			 Area total 5,300 6,600 3,700 
			 
			 Regional total 18,000 21,100 11,400 
			 
			 GB total 38,000 42,800 21,800 
			 (1) 2010-11 data are for quarters 1 and 2 (April-September 2010) (2) The figures provided may include certain discrepancies in respect of the Nottingham and Leicester offices because different databases were being used to collate data at different times.  Rounding: Figures in the table are rounded independently and thus may not add to totals. The following conventions have been used: Values less than 100 remain as unit values; Values from 100 to 999 are rounded to the nearest 10; Values of 1,000 and over are rounded to the nearest 100.  Source: ET Central database March 2011

Magistrates Courts: Closures

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he expects to lay before Parliament an Order to provide for the merging of magistrates benches in England.

Jonathan Djanogly: I expect to lay such an Order in late April.

Members: Correspondence

Tessa Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he plans to reply to the letter of 18 February 2011 from the right hon. Member for Dulwich and West Norwood, on retrospective limited compensation to victims of terrorism abroad, including Nigel Pike.

Kenneth Clarke: I have received this correspondence and will reply shortly.

Offenders: Berkshire

Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of offenders released from prison who are resident in  (a) Reading West constituency,  (b) Reading,  (c) Berkshire and  (d) England (i) entered employment and (ii) claimed out-of-work benefits within six months of release in each of the last 10 years.

Crispin Blunt: Information on offender's employment and benefit status post sentence is not collected centrally. The Ministry of Justice, the Department for Work and Pensions and HM Revenue and Customs have established a joint data sharing project to produce similar statistics to help policy development to improve employment outcomes and reduce reoffending.
	The aim of this one-off project is to get a better understanding of reoffending and long-term outcomes for offenders by linking MoJ administrative data from the police national computer (PNC) extract and prisons and probation data to administrative data from DWP and HMRC on benefits and employment. This data share is currently developmental but it is hoped that it will be published and made available later in 2011.

Prison Accommodation

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what size of prison population is required to trigger Operation Safeguard.

Crispin Blunt: Operation Safeguard is required when the size or distribution of the prison population is such that it can no longer be managed within the available capacity.
	Pressures in managing the population arise from a number of factors. These include the size of particular demographic sections of the prison population and capacity available to accommodate those segments, the geographic distribution of population between regions and NOMS ability to transfer prisoners to maximise the use of space, and whether there are any sudden local increases in population or losses of accommodation. As the total population approaches within approximately 1% of the prison estate's useable operational capacity, the risk of potentially requiring police cells under Operation Safeguard increases and more rigorous assessment of population pressures are required.

Prisoners: Finance

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners were on the  (a) basic,  (b) standard and  (c) enhanced tier of the Incentives and Earned Privileges scheme (IEP) in each of the last five years; what the cost to the public purse was of operating the scheme in each such year; and how many prisoners were  (a) not on,  (b) ineligible for and  (c) removed from the scheme in each such year.

Crispin Blunt: The numbers of prisoners on each level of the Incentives and Earned Privileges scheme (IEPS) for the last five years is set out in the following table below. The data is drawn from different systems and also represents an average therefore the figures do not precisely match population figures. However, they do provide an indication at national level of the operation of IEPS.
	
		
			   Basic  Standard  Enhanced 
			 2005-06 1134 44121 28997 
			 2006-07 1133 44808 30519 
			 2007-08 1350 45510 31098 
			 2008-09 1317 46103 32272 
			 2009-10 1398 45375 34482 
		
	
	The national policy framework is set out in Prison Service Order (PSO) 4000 Incentives Earned Privileges (available in the Library of the House). Prison governors have devolved responsibility to devise their own local scheme to meet the needs of the prison regime. The scheme is an integral part of prisoner management and the costs of operating it cannot be separately identified.
	The IEPS applies to all prisoners but governors may exempt from the scheme prisoners who have progressed onto a structured resettlement programme for whom other forms of incentive will apply. No prisoners are removed from the scheme but they may have certain privileges removed for a specified period as a punishment.

Prisoners: Gender Recognition

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 3 March 2011,  Official Report, column 578W, on prisoners: gender recognition, which  (a) internal and  (b) external stakeholders were consulted on Prison Service Instruction 07/2011 on the care and management of transsexual prisoners; and how the external stakeholders were selected.

Crispin Blunt: Operational staff and relevant policy teams within the National Offender Management Service were consulted on Prison Service Instruction 07/2011 on the care and management of transsexual prisoners. Officials within the Ministry of Justice, Home Office, Department of Health, and Government Equalities Office were also consulted.
	The following external stakeholders were consulted: operators of contracted prisons; unions; HM Chief Inspector of Prisons; Equality and Human Rights Commission; Gender Trust; Beaumont Society.
	The external stakeholders either asked to be part of the consultation or were selected on the basis of potential interest in the Instruction.

Prisoners: Gender Recognition

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 3 March 2011,  Official Report, column 578W, on prisoners: gender recognition, what plans he has for the implementation of Prison Service Instruction 07/2011 on the care and management of transsexual prisoners, including associated training for staff; and what timetable he has set for implementation.

Crispin Blunt: Prison Service Instruction 07/2011 on the care and management of transsexual prisoners was issued on 2 March 2011. Establishments must comply with the instruction from 14 March 2011.
	The instruction is intended to be self-explanatory and there will be no specific training about it for staff. The relevant policy teams at National Offender Management Service headquarters are available to provide advice. Establishments may identify a need for more general training about gender reassignment and the prevention of transphobia for staff working with transsexual prisoners and this will be provided by the relevant policy teams or sourced from external providers as necessary.

Probation: Finance

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the planned expenditure is for each probation trust in  (a) 2009-10,  (b) 2010-11,  (c) 2011-12,  (d) 2012-13 and  (e) 2013-14.

Crispin Blunt: The following table provides expenditure for each probation trust/board in 2009-10 and forecast expenditure for 2010-11.
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Area  Probation trust/(board)  2009-10  2010-11 
			 North East Durham Tees Valley 11 23 
			  Teesside 14 (1)- 
			  Northumbria 31 29 
			 Wales Wales 26 54 
			  Dyfed Powys 9 (1)- 
			  Gwent 12 (1)- 
			  North Wales 12 (1)- 
			 
			 Yorks and Humberside Humberside 19 18 
			  York and North Yorkshire 10 10 
			  South Yorkshire 26 25 
			  West Yorkshire 44 42 
			 
			 North West Cheshire 15 15 
			  Cumbria 9 9 
			  Greater Manchester 53 51 
			  Lancashire 24 23 
			  Merseyside 33 32 
			 
			 West Midlands Warwickshire 7 7 
			  West Mercia 15 15 
			  Staffordshire and West Midlands 59 72 
			  Staffordshire 17 (1)- 
			 
			 East of England Bedfordshire 10 9 
			  Cambridgeshire 10 10 
			  Essex 21 19 
			  Hertfordshire 12 11 
			  Norfolk and Suffolk 12 21 
			  Suffolk 11 4 
			 
			 East Midlands Derbyshire 15 14 
			  Leicestershire 15 15 
			  Lincolnshire 9 9 
			  Northamptonshire 9 9 
			  Nottinghamshire 20 19 
			 
			 South West Avon and Somerset 20 20 
			  Devon and Cornwall 21 19 
			  Dorset 10 9 
			  Gloucestershire 8 8 
			  Wiltshire 9 8 
			 
			 London London 152 146 
			 
			 South East Hampshire 25 25 
			  Kent 22 22 
			  Sussex 19 (1)- 
			  Surrey and Sussex 10 28 
			  Thames Valley 26 27 
			   911 875 
			 (1) Indicates a merged trust. 
		
	
	The National Offender Management Service is currently in the process of finalising budget allocations for 2011-12. Given the demanding settlement the department received we are continuing to finalise our savings plans for the remainder of the SR period, once we have completed this process we will look to provide firm business group allocations for the future years of the SR period-this is likely to include the overall funding envelope for probation.

Victims: Crime

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what arrangements are in place to provide support and advice to UK citizens who are the victims of crime in other EU member states; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions he has had on support for victims of crime who are UK citizens travelling in other EU member states; and if he will make a statement.

Crispin Blunt: The Ministry of Justice is the lead Department for the provision of support for within the UK and for EU victim policy. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office provide consular assistance to UK citizens who are the victims of crime in other EU member states.
	There are two main pieces of European Union legislation in place in relation to support for victims of crime. The 2001 Framework Decision on the standing of victims in criminal proceedings, which requires member states to ensure a minimum level of support to victims irrespective of the member state in which they are and the 2004 directive on cross-border co-operation on criminal injuries compensation. The directive requires all member states to have a compensation scheme for victims of "intentional violent crime" and ensures that compensation is accessible regardless of where in the EU a person becomes a victim of crime by creating a system of co-operation between national authorities.
	The Ministry of Justice is currently engaged in negotiations on a proposed directive to combat the sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of children and child pornography which includes proposals which provides for a range of support and assistance to address the need of child victims during and after criminal proceedings
	The European Commission is due to propose a package of measures relating to victims of crime in May 2011. This will include a directive that will replace the 2001 Framework Decision. The Ministry of Justice responded to a consultation held by the European Commission to inform the content of the proposals and we are having preliminary discussions with our EU counterparts.

Young Offender Institutions

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of provision for 18 to 20-year-old young offenders in the secure estate; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether he has any plans to assign any existing capacity within the young adult young offender institution secure estate for use by all adults;
	(3)  which young adult young offender institutions have been assigned to the adult secure estate in each of the last three years;
	(4)  what his policy is on young adult offenders in the secure estate.

Crispin Blunt: Young adults sentenced to detention in a young offender institution (DYOI) are detained in young offender institutions (YOIs) as required by section 98 of the Powers of the Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000. These are normally self-contained but in some instances are situated within an adult prison with which they share the majority of their facilities. Whatever the location, young adults detained in YOIs have separate sleeping accommodation and are always managed in accordance with the YOI rules.
	We are committed to retaining specific provision within the secure estate for young adult offenders. Our "Breaking the Cycle Green Paper" (consultation closed 4 March), sets out a broad reform agenda to drive improved results for all offenders in the secure estate, including young adults.
	Prison capacity and the role and function of individual establishments are kept under review to ensure that the prison estate is best configured to meet population needs as effectively and efficiently as possible. Consideration of changes to the different roles of individual establishments within the overall estate is undertaken on an ongoing basis.
	In the last three years, two establishments have been re-roled from young offender institutions to adult training prisons: YOIs Castington and Huntercombe were re-roled in 2010 following the decommissioning of places at these establishments by the Youth Justice Board.

Youth Offending Teams

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the potential effect of reductions to youth offending team budgets on levels of reoffending and antisocial behaviour involving young people in each local authority area; and if he will make a statement.

Crispin Blunt: No specific assessment has been made by central Government of the effect of potential budget reductions on youth reoffending and antisocial behaviour in each local authority area.
	It is for local areas to use their resources in the most effective way to meet local priorities. The proposals set out in the Ministry of Justice Green Paper in December are intended to incentivise local authorities to take on fuller responsibility for young people in the justice system. Through payment by results mechanisms, we will reward those areas that invest in the kind of prevention and rehabilitation work that is effective at stopping offending.

Youth Offending Teams

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what criteria he used to allocate resources for youth offending teams over the comprehensive spending review period; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan Djanogly: The following criteria will be used for calculating funding for Youth Offending Teams in 2011-12.
	The YJB is in the process of consulting with funding Departments and Youth Offending Teams to establish a revised funding formula to be implemented from 2012-13.
	 The Core Grant Formula
	The "core" funding pot is split into two: 5/90ths to an overall Welsh pot and 85/90ths to an English pot-this is referred to as the "Barnett" formula.
	The "Funding Formulae" is then applied to allocate funding to English and Welsh YOTs. Two different formulas are used, one for England and one for Wales.
	Each formula takes into account the following factors:
	 For English YOTs:
	50% of the formula is based on six summary indicators taken from the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004, published by the Department for Communities and Local Government. The six indicators include the following:
	Extent-Proportion of a YOT's population living in the wards which rank within the most deprived 10% of wards in the country.
	Local Concentration-Local Concentration is the population weighted average of the ranks of a YOT's most deprived wards that contain exactly 10% of the YOT's population.
	Average SOA Score-Population weighted average of the combined scores for the wards in a YOT.
	Average SOA Rank-Population weighted average of the combined ranks for the wards in a YOT.
	Number of Employment Deprived-The Employment Scale score is a count of the numbers of individuals experiencing employment deprivation.
	Number of Income Deprived-The Income Scale score is a count of the numbers of individuals experiencing this deprivation.
	40% of the formula is based on the 10 to 17-year-old population.
	10% is based on geographical size of the area.
	 For Welsh YOTs:
	40% of the formula is based on seven indicators taken from the Welsh Assembly Index of Multiple Deprivation 2005 published by the Welsh Assembly Government. These include income, employment, housing, access to services, health, environment and education.
	50% of the formula is based on the 10 to 17-year-old population.
	10% is based on YOT caseload data which is provided by YOTs and is the number of young offenders resident in each YOT area.
	Funding is also given to YOTs for:
	Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme.
	Keeping Young People Engaged.
	Welsh YOTs also receive the following funding:
	"Splash" funding which covers prevention activities and is split equally between all 18 YOTs in Wales.
	Substance misuse funding.

Youth Offending Teams

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what funding he has allocated to youth offending teams in each local authority area; and if he will make a statement.

Crispin Blunt: Youth offending teams (YOTs) are yet to be formally notified of their funding allocations from central Government for 2011-12. Government Departments are in the process of finalising their funding contributions to the Youth Justice Board. This is expected within the next 14 days after which the Youth Justice Board will send formal notification to each YOT and their local authority colleagues.
	Throughout the last six months, the Youth Justice Board have kept YOTs informed on progress with funding negotiations and, in the absence of final confirmation, each YOT was recently sent an indicative amount of the likely allocation to assist in their planning for the forthcoming financial year.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will reverse her decision to withdraw the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund.

Richard Benyon: The decision to withdraw the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF) will not be reversed; the ALSF programme of work will indeed be discontinued after the financial year ending 31 March 2011. This decision was taken as part of the spending review settlement in October 2010 in a very tight spending context where we had to look very carefully across all the Department's priorities to see where we can make best use of available funds.
	In 2011-12 the Department will fund a very modest and short-term legacy project to help ensure that the findings from the £60 million already invested in ALSF research and development are accessible to those who can put them into practice and achieve the potential improvements in environmental performance. This will involve bringing together material across numerous research reports and websites into a professional website tool run and maintained by the Minerals Industry Research Organisation.

Biodiversity

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department spent on biodiversity conservation in  (a) England and  (b) the UK Overseas Territories in each of the last five years.

Richard Benyon: Details of expenditure on biodiversity conservation in England are provided in the following table. These figures represent DEFRA programme spend and spend by the wider DEFRA network but do not include staff costs. They also include total agri-environment scheme expenditure and the DEFRA biodiversity research programme, of which a major share is judged to be spent on biodiversity in England.
	
		
			  Estimated public expenditure by DEFRA network organisations on biodiversity conservation in England 
			  £ million 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 DEFRA: Agri-environment schemes 187.2 254.6 324.9 362.4 356.5 
			   
			  Other DEFRA expenditure:  
			 Biodiversity programme 0.1 2.5 2.3 2.8 3.2 
			 Research 1.9 6.5 5.0 6.3 5.8 
			 Environment Agency 10.5 11.6 7.3 23.5 25.5 
			 Forestry Commission 17.7 22.8 28.1 33.3 32.0 
			 Natural England 57.3 54.1 52.7 52.4 56.9 
			 Joint Nature Conservation Committee 1.8 1.8 2.1 1.7 2.1 
			 DEFRA network total(1) 276.6 354.0 422.3 482.6 481.9 
			 (1)Totals may not add due to rounding. 
		
	
	Details of spending commitments on biodiversity conservation in the UK Overseas Territories are provided in the following table. These include commitments under the Darwin Initiative and support for projects to address invasive non-native species, in each of the last five financial years. They also include spend by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. They do not include spend by others, for example the governments of the Overseas Territories themselves, who are principally responsible for biodiversity conservation in their territories.
	
		
			   Total (£) 
			 2005-06 226,970 
			 2006-07 211,130 
			 2007-08 152,379 
			 2008-09 178,527 
			 2009-10 508,558 
		
	
	In addition, DEFRA funded biodiversity conservation projects in 2009 and 2010 in the UK Overseas Territories through the Flagship Species Fund amounting to approximately £10,000 and £28,000 respectively.

Biodiversity

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when her Department plans to launch Round 18 of the Darwin Initiative; and whether a proportion of that fund will be reserved for the UK Overseas Territories.

Richard Benyon: We are aiming to launch Round 18 of the Darwin Initiative shortly. Details of the Round, including the proportion of the fund that may be ear-marked for specific activities or specific geographical areas, are being developed.

Departmental Procurement

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost to the public purse was of the  (a) procurement and  (b) outsourcing function of (i) her Department and (ii) each (A) agency, (B) non-departmental public body and (C) non-ministerial department for which she is responsible in the last financial year for which figures are available.

Richard Benyon: The following table shows the identified costs of the  (a) procurement and  (b) outsourcing functions for the fiscal year 2009-10.
	
		
			  Organisation  Cost of procurement function 2009-10 (£)  Notes  Cost of outsourcing function 2009-10 
			 Core DEFRA 4,362,890.00 - The costs in 2009-10 varied through the year as additional resources were used for periods to aid contract renegotiation. Since the signing of a new contract, overall staff numbers have significantly decreased. The ICT outsourcing contract includes providing a range of services to a number of the Departments ALBs as well as core DEFRA. 
			 Food and Environment Research Agency 288,000.00 - n/a 
			 Rural Payments Agency 688,000.00 - n/a 
			 Veterinary Medicines Directorate - Nil. VMD has no separate procurement function. Procurement is part of the role of a number of VMD staff but we do not separately capture time spent on this activity. n/a 
			 Animal Health Agency - Nil. Core DEFRA procure on behalf of Animal Health. n/a 
			 Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science 34,367.00 - n/a 
			 Marine Management Organisation 164,000.00 The procurement function was fulfilled by one HQ and nine coastal administrators along with support by the shared services department SSD of DEFRA. n/a 
			 Veterinary Laboratories Agency 149,000.00 - n/a 
			 British Waterways - Nil. British Waterways is moving from a public corporation to charitable status in 2012. n/a 
			 Forestry Commission 131,151.90 2009-10-the Forestry Commission England (a non-ministerial Department) n/a 
			 Environment Agency 4,000,000.00 This excludes Wales Procurement and ICT Commercial costs. The EA does not have a separate outsource function as this activity is delivered by procurement. 
			 Gangmasters Licensing Authority - The size of the GLA means that it has no dedicated procurement function. n/a 
			 Joint Nature Conservation Committee 85,000.00 - n/a 
			 National Forest - Nil. The size of the National Forest Company means that it has no dedicated procurement function. n/a 
			 Natural England 919,000.00 Natural England's Procurement Function undertakes all procurement activity which includes any outsourcing; therefore there is no separate Outsourcing Function. n/a 
			 Royal Botanic Gardens Kew - During 2009-10 procurement was undertaken by existing Kew staff completing other tasks. With effect from 1 February 2011 the procurement activities for Kew has now transferred to core DEFRA. n/a 
			 Sustainable Development Commission 59,635.00 - n/a 
			 n/a = Not applicable.

Departmental Procurement

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which procurement projects engaged upon by  (a) her Department and  (b) each non-departmental public body and agency for which she is responsible had a designated senior responsible owner in the latest period for which figures are available; and on what date each officer was appointed in each such case.

Richard Benyon: The Department, its agencies and non-departmental bodies undertake many projects, many of which may have a procurement requirement. In the core Department, the agencies and non-departmental public bodies, most of these have no central record of all these projects and the related procurements and therefore no central record of all designated senior responsible owners. To compile such a list would incur a disproportionate cost.
	Some areas have processes that do allow some collection of data on designated senior responsible owners where the value of the requirement is significant. An example is:
	Natural England appointed an SRO for the one procurement project identified over £10 million. The SRO was an executive director and was appointed on 10 March 2009. The contract was awarded on 1 August 2010. Natural England had no other projects over £10 million during the reporting period. Natural England's project management procedures require that a role equivalent to an SRO is appointed for all projects and the seniority of the person fulfilling the role is determined by our financial scheme of delegation.
	The Department, its agencies and non-departmental bodies use formal project management techniques and processes to manage most of its projects and the assignment of a senior responsible owner, who may or may not be dedicated to the project, is determined by the estimated value, complexity and delivery requirements of the project. In all cases, projects have designated management to lead all requirements and where procurement is necessary, the skills of professional procurement staff in each of the areas will be sought and used as appropriate.

Forests

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria she proposes to use to determine membership of the Forestry Expert Review Panel.

James Paice: The panel's membership is still being considered. It will include representatives of key environmental and access organisations, alongside representatives of the forestry industry. It will need to draw on a broad range of expertise to inform its work.

Forests

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what process she plans to follow to establish an independent forest advisory panel; and what timetable she has set for this process.

James Paice: The panel's membership is still being considered. It will include representatives of key environmental and access organisations, alongside representatives of the forestry industry and will need to draw on a broad range of expertise to inform its work. We will make an announcement on the panel's composition as soon as possible and anticipate that the panel will report its findings in the autumn.

Natural England

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's policy is on the use of powers of guidance and direction in sections 15 and 16 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006.

Richard Benyon: Ministerial powers of guidance and direction in relation to Natural England were included in the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006 in accordance with Cabinet Office guidance.
	The Department issued "Statutory guidance for Natural England on regional planning and associated matters", as required by section 15(1) of the NERC Act in March 2007. Up to the present time, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the right hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs Spelman), has not considered that either statutory guidance to Natural England under section 15(2), or a direction under section 16, is required.

Natural England

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on how many occasions her Department's and Natural England's Technical Advice Customers Group has met since 1 January 2008.

Richard Benyon: In 2006, arrangements were put in place to ensure continued access to the types of technical advice provided to DEFRA (and other Government Departments) by the three predecessor bodies to Natural England, following the vesting of Natural England. The Technical Advice Customer Group was established to review these arrangements, and met a number of times in the early years of Natural England's operation. It has met twice since 1 January 2008. The last meeting of the group, in 2008, concluded that provision of technical advice was working well and could in future be delivered through existing planning and management channels between DEFRA and Natural England.

Natural England

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions  (a) Ministers,  (b) the Permanent Secretary and  (c) the chief scientific adviser to her Department have had with Natural England on the practice of Natural England in (i) assuring the quality of its evidence and advice to her Department and (ii) recording and retaining audit trails of evidence and advice provided to her Department.

Richard Benyon: There have been no direct discussions recently between Ministers or the Permanent Secretary and Natural England regarding processes for assuring the quality of its evidence and advice to DEFRA, or recording and retaining audit trails of such evidence and advice.
	The chief scientific adviser (CSA) has periodic meetings with Natural England's executive director for Science and Evidence. During some recent meetings, quality assuring evidence and advice and audit trails have been discussed. The CSA has also met Natural England's chief executive and officials to discuss similar issues regarding evidence and advice relating to the identification of candidate marine Special Areas of Conservation.

Natural England

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance her Department has issued to Natural England on  (a) good practice in (i) provision of advice and evidence and (ii) measures for the recording of evidence and analysis provided to her Department and  (b) the process for designation of marine protected areas.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA has not issued any specific guidance to Natural England regarding good practice in the provision of evidence and advice or measures for recording evidence and analysis.
	There are a number of published guidelines covering various aspects of the use of scientific advice in policy making. The Government chief scientific adviser's Guidelines on the Use of Scientific and Engineering Advice in Policy Making(1) (updated 2010) are specifically targeted to Government Departments and provide general advice on good practice, including on how scientific and engineering advice should be sought and applied. They do not explicitly apply to non-departmental public bodies such as Natural England. Whether or not there are explicit requirements, the Government would expect Natural England to use good practice, as appropriate to their own purposes and procedures.
	Guidance on the designation of European marine sites is provided by the European Commission with additional guidance produced by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee.
	DEFRA has issued a guidance note on the proposed approach to the selection and designation of marine conservation zones under part 5 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act(2). This was issued in draft in May 2009 and finalised in September 2010 following feedback from those using the advice. Guidance has also been provided on identifying possible management measures, ecosystem services and total economic valuation.
	(1) http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/bispartners/goscience/docs/g/10-669-gcsa-guidelines-scientific-engineering-advice-policy-making.pdf
	(2)( )http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/biodiversity/marine/documents/guidance-note1.pdf

Rivers: Closures

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many stretches of river in the East of England were closed by the Environment Agency for maintenance in each of the last three years; and what the length of closure was in each case.

Richard Benyon: The stretches of Environment Agency navigable rivers in East Anglia that were closed for maintenance over the past three years, and the duration of these closures, are outlined in the following table:
	
		
			  East Anglian waterways reach closures 
			   2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			 Number of reaches 69 69 69 
			 Total reach days available (number x 365) 25,185 25,185 25,185 
			 Reaches closed 4 2 3 
			 Mean duration (days) 46.3 25.0 8.2 
			 Total reach days closed 185 50 41 
			 Closure percentage(1) 0.7 0.2 0.2 
			 (1) Closure percentage = total reach days closed/total reach days available percentage 
		
	
	These closures stop navigation within the reach, generally to ensure the safety of the public, staff or contractors while maintenance works are undertaken.
	Individual locks are also closed for similar maintenance works. These closures mean that craft cannot navigate through the lock, but can still navigate in the reaches up and downstream of the lock. The locks on the Environment Agency navigable rivers in East Anglia that were closed for maintenance over the past three years, and the duration of these closures, are outlined in the following table:
	
		
			  East Anglian waterways lock closures 
			   2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			 Number of locks 69 69 69 
			 Total lock days available (number x 365) 25,185 25,185 25,185 
			 Locks closed 15 9 24 
			 Mean duration (days) 14.1 17.9 18.8 
			 Total lock days closed 211 161 452 
			 Closure percentage(1) 0.8 0.6 1.8 
			 (1) Closure percentage = total lock days closed/total lock days available percentage

Seas and Oceans: Environment Protection

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's policy is on the  (a) openness and  (b) transparency of the process for designation of marine protected areas.

Richard Benyon: We expect a full and open public consultation to take place during the process for designation of marine protected areas. This will be expected to include the reasons for site selection and the evidence on which site selection decisions were made.

Sewers: Private Sector

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the responses to her Department's consultation on private sewer transfers; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: The Secretary of State for Environment, Foods and Rural Affairs will publish a summary of responses to the consultation in due course. 106 responses were received from 96 respondents covering a wide range of sectors. An analysis of the responses, together with an overview of feedback from the workshops that were undertaken to support the consultation, will be presented in the summary.

Sewers: Private Sector

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with Ofwat on the proposed transfer of private sewers to water companies.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA officials continue to meet regularly with Ofwat to discuss various aspects of the Government's proposals for the transfer of private sewers.

Sewers: Private Sector

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to transfer private sewers to water companies; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: The regulations to effect the transfer of private sewers are currently being considered in accordance with the Government's principles for better regulation. Following this they will need parliamentary approval before transfer can take place.
	Subject to the regulations being approved, transfer is proposed to take place on 1 October 2011.

Sewers: Private Sector

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the regulations for the transfer of private drains and sewers to come into force.

Richard Benyon: The regulations to effect the transfer of private sewers are currently being considered in accordance with the Government's principles for better regulation. Following this they will need parliamentary approval before transfer can take place. Subject to the regulations being approved, transfer is proposed to take place on 1 October 2011.

Sewers: Private Sector

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to lay before Parliament the regulations to authorise the transfer of private drains and sewers to statutory sewer companies.

Richard Benyon: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave her on 3 March 2011,  Official Report, column 517W.

Sewers: Private Sector

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to publish her proposals for the transfer of private drains and sewers to statutory sewer companies.

Richard Benyon: The consultation on draft regulations and proposals for schemes for the transfer of private sewers to water and sewerage companies in England and Wales was published on 26 August 2010. With regard to the timing of the proposed regulations, they are currently being considered in accordance with the Government's principles for better regulation. Following this they will need parliamentary approval before transfer can take place. Subject to the regulations being approved, transfer is proposed to take place on 1 October 2011.

Slaughterhouses

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent research her Department has  (a) evaluated and  (b) commissioned on levels of pain and distress experienced during the slaughter process by animals (i) not stunned and (ii) stunned prior to slaughter.

James Paice: DEFRA and the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry commissioned and joint funded research to investigate the effects of slaughter by ventral neck incision on the EEG in calves (project number MH0129). This work commenced in January 2005 and the final report was published in the  New Zealand Veterinary Journal in April 2009. This work indicates that the neck cut associated with religious slaughter evokes a pain response in anesthetised calves.
	DEFRA has commissioned the following projects since the beginning of 2005 which relate to the pain and distress experienced by animals stunned prior to slaughter:
	MH0128: Novel and humane gaseous killing methods for pigs;
	MH0129: Investigation of the EEG effects-of-slaughter-by ventral-neck incision in calves: humane slaughter study;
	MH0135: Containability and aversiveness of different gas mixtures used for the stunning of slaughter weight pigs;
	MH0138: Reducing bird stress and discomfort on the poultry shackling line;
	MH0145: Study to identify the welfare costs and benefits of existing and novel on-farm culling methods of poultry.
	Details of all DEFRA R and D projects can be found by searching for the project code at:
	http://randd.defra.gov.uk
	DEFRA has not specifically evaluated any research on levels of pain and distress experienced during the slaughter process by animals stunned or not stunned prior to slaughter. However we do seek to ensure policy decisions reflect latest scientific evidence and will consider all relevant published research before final decisions are made. In addition the Farm Animal Welfare Council conducted a review of research when it prepared its reports on red and white meat slaughter in 2003 and 2009 respectively.

Slaughterhouses

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on requiring the stunning of animals prior to slaughter.

James Paice: We would prefer to see all animals stunned before slaughter. However, religious slaughter (slaughter without prior stunning) is currently allowed in the UK in recognition of the religious beliefs of Muslim and Jewish faiths. This is consistent with the European directive 93/119/EC which permits an exemption from the requirement to stun animals for methods of slaughter required by certain religious rites.
	In the UK slaughter without prior stunning can only be undertaken in a slaughterhouse. Schedule 12 of the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 sets out the requirements in more detail, including conditions for restraint, handling, slaughter and minimum bleed-out times.

Slaughterhouses: Standards

Jack Lopresti: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to promote animal welfare standards in abattoirs.

James Paice: The Government encourage the highest standards of animal welfare at slaughter. Directive 93/119/EC on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing has been implemented by The Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995, as amended. These regulations govern animal welfare at slaughter and are designed specifically to prevent cruelty or poor practice in slaughterhouses.
	The regulations make it an offence to cause any animal avoidable excitement, pain or suffering at any time between its arrival at a slaughterhouse and when it is killed. In particular, animals must be stunned properly so that they are unconscious and unable to feel pain during the slaughter process unless the slaughter is carried out for meat for a religious purpose.
	The regulations also require slaughterers to be licensed. The licensing process involves an assessment of competence by a veterinary surgeon to ensure that slaughterers can carry out their work effectively and competently.
	Council Regulation 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at killing was made on 24 September 2009. This regulation will apply from 1 January 2013 and will replace Directive 93/119/EC. The new regulation introduces a number of additional requirements including a requirement that all slaughterhouses (above a minimum size) will have to appoint a specific person responsible for animal welfare and ensure their staff are properly trained and certified. The regulation also permits the use of national rules to maintain existing welfare protection where that is better than the minimum standards set out in the regulation. There will be full consultation on the way regulation 1099/2009 is implemented.

Special Areas of Conservation

Sheryll Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  whether she has any plans to seek independent external expert advice on the  (a) processes,  (b) evidence,  (c) analysis and  (d) advice provided by Natural England to inform her Department's decisions on candidate Special Areas of Conservation;
	(2)  whether her Department is assessing the scientific evidence used to inform the decision-making process in relation to any potential or candidate Special Areas of Conservation; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: Decisions to submit candidate Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) to the European Commission are supported by scientific evidence and advice provided by our statutory nature conservation bodies following public consultation. To help inform DEFRA of this process, its chief scientific adviser is commissioning an independent case study review to look at some examples relating to the selection of candidate/possible SACs. The review will consider the following case studies: Lyme Bay and Torbay, and Prawle Point to Plymouth Sound and Eddystone candidate SACs, and Prawle Point to Start Point possible SAC. The case study review will look at the evidence, advice and processes, as well as the Government's evaluation of such information.

Sustainable Development

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what policy outcomes to enhance sustainable development her Department  (a) has developed and  (b) plans to develop following the Green Breakfast meeting with ministerial colleagues she hosted on 8 March 2011; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: The Green Breakfast meeting is an informal working group, hosted by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. It considers practical issues related to Government's commitment to deliver sustainable growth. It also operates as a discussion forum for cross cutting issues such as sustainable development, and Ministers from the following Departments are invited to attend: DEFRA, DECC, BIS, UKTI, HMT, Cabinet Office, DFID, FCO, CLG and DfT.
	Cabinet Committees remain the place for policy decisions to be made.

Waste Management

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 3 March 2011,  Official Report, column 520W, on waste management, which stakeholders  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials have met in connection with the review of waste policies.

Richard Benyon: holding answer 10 March 2011
	Ministers have engaged with a wide range of stakeholders through the ongoing review of waste policies, and are continuing to do so as the review progresses. This engagement includes meeting or visiting the following organisations:
	Air Products
	APS Salads
	Asda
	Association for Organics Recycling
	Biffa
	Biogen Greenfinch
	British Retail Consortium
	Campaign for Real Recycling
	Centrol Recycling Group
	Coca Cola Enterprises
	Envac
	Environment Agency
	Environmental Services Association
	Fareshare
	Friends of the Earth
	Graphite Resources
	Green Alliance
	Green-works
	Hackney Council
	Improvement and Efficiency South East
	Ineos Bio
	Kilfrost
	Local Government Association
	Ocado
	Plastics 2020 Challenge consortium
	Premier Waste
	PYReco
	Recresco Ltd
	Richmondshire Council
	Sita
	Somerset waste partnerships
	South Tyneside Council
	Sustainable Resource Forum
	Telford Hart
	The Vine Project
	Viridor
	WRAP
	Ministers have met representatives of other organisations in the margins of other events where discussion included the review of waste policies, but it is not possible to compile a complete list of such contact.
	Officials from the Department have also met with a wide range of organisations regarding the ongoing review, both through speaking at a significant number of events and meetings with a broad range of stakeholders. This supports the input received to the review of waste policies through other mechanisms. The Department received 309 responses to its Call For Evidence for the review, which included 101 from local authorities, 57 from a wide range of businesses and 53 from private individuals. Copies of the responses to the Call for Evidence will be publicly available in DEFRA's Information Resource Centre until July 2011. Nearly 400 comments were posted on DEFRA's online discussion forum by individuals discussing waste policy, with approximately 1,500 individuals completing a short online survey.

Water Charges

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to publish the consultation on the Walker review of charging and metering for water and sewerage services; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: In our programme for government we committed to examine the issues covered by the Walker review. We plan to consult on some of the key points raised this spring.

Water Supply

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has had discussions with  (a) Ofwat and  (b) the Department for Energy and Climate Change on the potential for water companies to fund the marginal cost of delivering cold water efficiency measures so that they can be offered for free to householders as part of the Green Deal.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA has had discussions about the scope for water efficiency measures, both hot and cold, with both Ofwat and the Department of Energy and Climate Change. Advice on water efficiency measures will be offered as part of the overall Green Deal.
	The 'golden rule' of the Green Deal is that expected financial savings from reduced energy use must be equal to or greater than the costs attached to the consumer's energy bill. Because cold water use does not affect a householder's energy use, cold water efficiency measures would not be eligible for Green Deal financing arrangements.
	However, water companies can and do offer retrofit cold water efficiency measures. Such services could be delivered alongside Green Deal measures.

Whales

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps she has taken in relation to whaling; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: I attended the last annual International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting, to demonstrate our commitment to the work of the IWC and the importance that the UK Government and people attach to it. We worked hard with other member states to ensure that the EU took a strong, pro-conservation position and stood firm to ensure that the IWC moratorium on commercial whaling was not undermined.
	Ahead of this year's IWC meeting, I plan to discuss our support for the moratorium on commercial whaling with a range of environmental and other organisations, and with anti-whaling countries.
	DEFRA officials will be meeting the 25 EU IWC contracting Governments and other anti-whaling countries in the build-up to the 63rd International Whaling Commission annual meeting (IWC63).
	We will also be working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to raise the issue with key IWC members prior to IWC63, encouraging support for the moratorium and for the UK's position to ensure the long-term conservation and protection of whales.

Whales: Japan

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with her Japanese counterpart on whaling.

Richard Benyon: holding answer 14 March 2011
	 The UK Government make their opposition to whaling known to Japan at every appropriate opportunity. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the right hon. Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), and other Ministers, including those from DEFRA, raised whaling with the Japanese Government on several occasions last year. Furthermore, I have written to my Japanese counterpart to express concern over whaling and, in particular, the wide-scale hunting of dolphins. Senior officials also regularly make representations on whaling with the Government of Japan, most recently in January 2011.
	The Japanese Government are in no doubt as to the strength of feeling in this country about whaling, the UK Government will continue to challenge Japan's position in the build up to this year's meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC63) in July.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Public Bills: Internet

Natascha Engel: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  who will be responsible for operating the dedicated website for public reading stage of Bills; how many people will operate the website; and what budget has been established for the website;
	(2)  what progress he has made on the establishment of a dedicated website to take online comments from members of the public on proposed legislation.

Nicholas Clegg: On 15 February 2011,  Official Report, column 73WS, I announced the launch of a website that allowed the public to comment on the Protection of Freedoms Bill online, before the House of Commons commenced its consideration at Second Reading:
	www.publicreadingstage.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
	This is a pilot website and decisions about the operation of any dedicated public reading website will be taken, in light of this experience, by the Leader of the House of Commons in consultation with ministerial colleagues.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what new capabilities he expects to be provided to British troops in Afghanistan as a consequence of the funding announced on 10 June 2010 to help troops counter improvised explosive devices.

Liam Fox: The allocation of up to an additional £67 million announced by the Prime Minister on 10 June 2010 is allowing us to equip a significant increase in the number of specialist counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED) teams in theatre. The additional capabilities include more protected vehicles and more specialist explosive ordnance disposal and search equipment including remote control vehicles, for use by our C-IED teams, and enhancements to our military working dog capability; these, and enhancements to other critical capabilities, will make a considerable contribution to operational capability, increase the protection available to our armed forces, and enhance their ability to defeat the IED threat.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department  (a) has taken and  (b) plans to take to encourage the government of Afghanistan to record and report the number of deaths in the conflict in that country in each month.

Liam Fox: I regularly hold discussions with members of the Afghan Government on a number of issues including fatalities.
	United Nations Assistance Mission Afghanistan in conjunction with the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission currently release bi-annual reports on civilian casualties in Afghanistan and individual ISAF troop contributing nations regularly report fatalities among their own armed forces.
	I believe this is an appropriate approach to what is a sensitive and complex issue.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will make it his policy to place in the Library at the time of making his quarterly oral statement on Afghanistan monthly estimates of the number of fatalities among ISAF-trained Afghan National Army personnel who were present for duty independently of ISAF troops and his assessment of the extent to which the number of known fatalities reflects actual fatalities;
	(2)  if he will present information on  (a) the known number and  (b) his estimate of the total number of fatalities among ISAF-trained Afghan National Army personnel who were present for duty alongside ISAF troops at the time of each future quarterly oral statement on Afghanistan;
	(3)  if he will present information on  (a) the known number and  (b) his estimate of the total number of fatalities among ISAF-trained Afghan National Army personnel who were present for duty alongside UK troops at the time of each future quarterly oral statement on Afghanistan.

Liam Fox: This is a matter for the Government of Afghanistan. We do not hold information on the number of Afghan National Security Forces fatalities.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to place in the Library at the time of making his quarterly Oral Statement on Afghanistan cumulative monthly estimates of  (a) the number of,  (b) the number of fatalities among and  (c) the number present for duty (i) alongside ISAF troops, (ii) alongside UK troops and (iii) independent of ISAF troops of ISAF-trained Afghan National Army personnel.

Liam Fox: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer the Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, my right hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Robathan) gave on 17 February 2011,  Official Report, column 914W.
	The Ministry of Defence only holds data on the number of Afghan National Army personnel present for duty within the Task Force Helmand area of operations.
	We do not hold information on the number of fatalities in the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) as it is a matter for the Government of Afghanistan.
	The development of the ANSF is a key element in delivering our national security objectives in Afghanistan. Responsibility for the Government's quarterly oral statement on Afghanistan rotates between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Ministry of Defence and the Department for International Development. Information on the development of the ANSF will continue to be given in the Government's monthly written statements on Afghanistan, and will be included in quarterly oral statements as appropriate.

Air Force: Military Bases

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 7 March 2011,  Official Report, column 802W, on air force: military bases, if he will place in the Library a copy of the study into the UK Military Emergency Diversion Aerodrome capability.

Andrew Robathan: A copy of the document will be placed in the Library of the House.

Ammunition

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the shelf life of 120 mm Charm 3 APFSDS L27 rounds.

Peter Luff: All stocks of the 120 mm Charm 3 APFSDS L27 round are currently held in storage. In these controlled conditions, the L27 round has a five year shelf life.

Ammunition

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has assessed the suitability of the use of the L18 charge together with the L27 propellant charge.

Peter Luff: We are currently assessing whether the L18 charge could be used in conjunction with the L27 round, but we have yet to reach any conclusions.

Armed Forces

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for restructuring of the armed forces after the date of withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.

Liam Fox: The Strategic Defence and Security Review identifies the armed forces we believe we will need over the text 10 years, and the restructuring required to deliver them. It has deliberately focussed on the decisions that need to be taken in the next four years, and left to 2015 those decisions that can better be taken in the light of further experience in Afghanistan and developments in the wider economic situation.

Armed Forces: Allowances

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 8 February 2011,  Official Report, column 126W, on armed forces: pay, how many members of the armed forces have informed their chain of command that they believe they will be placed in financial difficulty by recent changes to their allowances.

Andrew Robathan: The information requested is not held. Service personnel are encouraged to contact their chain of command when they face financial difficulties, whatever the reason for those difficulties. Commanding officers are aware that recent changes to the pay and allowance system may require personnel to make some adjustments to their financial affairs and at least three months notice was given to personnel before any measures came into effect to give them the time to do so.
	General advice on debt is available to personnel at all levels, and ranges from written guides, financial expertise of pay staff and service family organisations, as well as ensuring there are good links to national organisations such as the Citizens' Advice Bureau and Money Advisory Service.

Armed Forces: Cancer

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the incidence of (i) brain tumours and (ii) other forms of cancer among (A) armed forces personnel and (B) the civilian population.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 14 March 2011
	 The Ministry of Defence's Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DASA) compare the mortality rates for in-service deaths due to cancer with those in the general UK population in the annual national statistic notice on deaths in the UK regular armed forces.
	In addition, DASA provide the numbers of deaths due to cancers among veterans of the first Gulf war in the annual national statistic notice on the mortality of veterans of the first Gulf war. Overall figures and breakdowns by cancer site are provided. Mortality rates are compared to those in a comparison 'Era' cohort, consisting of individuals of a similar age, gender, service, regular/reservist status and rank who were in service on 1 January 1991 but did not deploy to the Gulf. The report does not currently compare cancers to the UK population.
	The National Statistics on deaths in the UK regular armed forces and Gulf mortality are available on the DASA website
	www.dasa.mod.uk
	and the next release is due on 31 March 2011.
	From April 2011, DASA will start a study to monitor mortality and cancer registrations of all UK personnel in service (including all reservists who deploy on operations) from 18 January 2003 until the draw down of troops in Afghanistan. The intention is to monitor the population for their lifetime and will include the veteran population.

Armed Forces: Housing

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the use of receipts from the sale of barracks for improvements to service accommodation.

Andrew Robathan: In line with HM Treasury guidance, receipts retained by the Ministry of Defence from the sale of property are reinvested by the Department in key priorities, and form part of the Defence budget. In support of our servicemen and women more capital is generally invested each year in modernising the Defence estate than is generated by the sale of estate assets.

Armed Forces: Redundancy

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of redundancies to arise from proposed changes to communications and logistics support to Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps; and whether this figure has been reckoned as part of the addition to or part of 25,000 civilian staff redundancies already announced.

Andrew Robathan: The strategic defence and security review white paper published in October 2010 outlined the requirement to restructure the Army and stated that the Army will
	'rationalise our deployable headquarters by reducing the communications and logistics support to Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) to reflect its static rather than mobile role'.
	While organisational restructuring and reductions in military manpower are clearly linked it is incorrect to assume that because an organisation is rationalised the individuals in that organisation will be made redundant. When organisational change reduces the requirement for officers or soldiers, then the overall strength is reduced. Separate processes are used to determine how to effect that reduction and, therefore, which individuals will be affected. This means that the most appropriate individuals leave the service, not necessarily the ones who happen to be in an organisation at the time it is rationalised.
	It is too early to say whether this restructuring will result in a surplus of civilian staff, but in the event of civilian staff redundancies resulting from this restructuring they will be scored as part of the 25,000 already announced.

Armed Forces: Redundancy

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the oral answer of 15 February 2011,  Official Report, column 815, on the armed forces (redundancies), what criteria his Department used to determine which warrant officers were to have their contracts terminated.

Andrew Robathan: The Army's versatile engagement long career and long service list is being reviewed against future requirements for such posts. As a result, those individuals on the list whose current contract was due to end between 31 March 2011 and 12 January 2012 were notified that they may not receive further extension of service once their current contract period ends. This is an interim planning measure until the completion of the review, which will confirm the numbers and skills required for the future.
	These individuals are on individual contracts and are not being made redundant as part of the strategic defence and security review reductions to the armed forces.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much funding he plans to allocate to introducing the Future Rapid Effects System Utility Vehicle.

Peter Luff: The Utility Vehicle (UV) programme has not yet reached its main investment decision point. The Ministry of Defence does not publish the planned costs of programmes before this point. To do otherwise would potentially undermine our commercial position.

Arms Trade

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department takes to  (a) record and  (b) monitor the subsequent use of arms systems and other weapons sold to foreign governments by UK companies.

Gerald Howarth: The UK maintains a rigorous and transparent arms export control system, under which all export licence applications are assessed case by case against the Consolidated European Union and National Arms Exports Licensing Criteria.
	UK end-use monitoring of UK-origin military goods takes place in three contexts. Firstly, the information gathering that takes place in making the case-by-case assessment of each licence application. This takes account of the past record of the proposed end-user. Secondly, detailed monitoring, review and reporting around incidents of concern, the results of which are factored into judgments about whether or not to revoke extant licences and issue new ones. Thirdly, general monitoring on a continuous basis, with information received in-country being fed back to the export licensing and other relevant Departments in London. Foreign and Commonwealth Office posts abroad play an active and vital role in monitoring.

Army: Redundancy

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria his Department plans to use to determine which army personnel will be made redundant under its present programme of redundancies.

Andrew Robathan: I refer the right hon. Member to the statement given by the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox), on 1 March 2011,  Official Report, columns 21-22WS, on the armed forces redundancy programme.
	The Army will be in a position to confirm the criteria by which Army personnel will be made redundant under its present programme of redundancies on 4 April 2011.

Army: Redundancy

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he anticipates redundancies from the conversion of the second operational divisional headquarters to a force preparation role.

Andrew Robathan: The strategic defence and security review White Paper published in October 2010 outlined the requirement to restructure the Army and stated that the Army will
	'convert the second of our operational divisional headquarters to a force preparation role.'
	While organisational restructuring and reductions in military manpower are clearly linked it is incorrect to assume that because an organisation is rationalised the individuals in that organisation will be made redundant. When organisational change reduces the requirement for officers or soldiers, then the overall strength is reduced. Separate processes are used to determine how to effect that reduction and, therefore, which individuals will be affected. This means that the most appropriate individuals leave the service, not necessarily the ones who happen to be in an organisation at the time it is rationalised.
	It is too early to say whether this restructuring will result in a surplus of civilian staff, but in the event of civilian staff redundancies resulting from this restructuring they will be scored as part of the 25,000 already announced.

Defence: Expenditure

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to monitor the reduction of expenditure in the defence budget.

Liam Fox: Successful implementation of the Strategic Defence and Security Review is one of the Ministry of Defence's key objectives and encompasses reductions in expenditure. I have, therefore, set up a monthly steering group chaired by myself to monitor and drive forward the process. This is supported by a Defence Operating Board (Transforming Defence) chaired by the 2(nd) permanent under-secretary and vice-chief of the defence staff. These will enable us to provide assurance of delivery and senior oversight to maintain momentum.

Defence: Procurement

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how much he expects his Department to save as a result of the commitment in the Strategic Defence and Security Review to save significant amounts from contract re-negotiations with the defence industry in each year of the comprehensive spending review period;
	(2)  what recent discussions  (a) he,  (b) Ministers in his Department and  (c) officials in his Department have had with representatives of the defence industry on the honouring of provisions in contracts to which his Department is party;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the saving for his Department as a result of implementation of the commitment in the Strategic Defence and Spending Review to save significant amounts from contract renegotiations with the defence industry; and how much he expects to be saved in each year of the comprehensive spending review period;
	(4)  whether the contract renegotiations with the defence industry committed to in the Strategic Defence and Security Review have commenced; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence honours its contractual commitments. Where it is necessary to amend the conditions of a contract, we do so through negotiation. Regarding negotiations relating specifically to post-Strategic Defence and Security Review work, I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2 March 2011,  Official Report, column 454-5W to the right hon. Member for Coventry North East (Mr Ainsworth).

Defence: Procurement

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many obligations in contracts with private sector providers have not been met as a consequence of the time taken to announce the composition of the equipment programme following the strategic defence and security review.

Peter Luff: I am aware of no contractual obligations in respect of defence equipment which the Department has not met as a result of the current financial planning round.

Departmental Leaseback Arrangements

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assets his Department has sold and leased back over the last 12 months; what the sale price was of each asset so sold; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of leasing back each such asset over the period of the lease.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence has not sold and leased back any assets during the last 12 months.

Departmental Procurement

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many procurement projects with a monetary value greater than  (a) £10 million,  (b) £50 million and  (c) £100 million (i) his Department and (ii) each non-departmental public body and agency for which he is responsible was engaged upon in the latest period for which figures are available.

Peter Luff: The current numbers of procurement projects identified by the Ministry of Defence in the categories requested is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Project value (£ million)  Number of projects 
			 10-50 125 
			 50-100 21 
			 Over 100 66 
		
	
	The projects included are those funded and managed by the Defence Equipment and Support and Defence Estates organisations. There are no procurement projects being managed by the non-departmental public bodies that fall within the scope of the question.

Departmental Public Expenditure

John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what timetable he has set for decisions on measures to achieve non-frontline savings identified in the Strategic Defence and Security Review.

Liam Fox: The Ministry of Defence is committed to making at least £4.3 billion of non-frontline savings by 2014-15. We are determined to deliver these.

Departmental Research

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much expenditure his Department  (a) allocated to science and technology research in each of the last five years and  (b) plans to allocate to science and technology research in each of the next five years.

Peter Luff: holding answer 14 March 2011
	The most recently published figures for net Ministry of Defence (MOD) research spending in "UK Defence Statistics 2010", which included the research programme controlled by the chief scientific adviser (CSA) and other activity reported as "research" in the accounts across MOD are (inclusive of non-recoverable VAT at current prices):
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2006-07 632 
			 2007-08 635 
			 2008-09 584 
		
	
	MOD research expenditure statistics are designated National Statistics status and as such the release of the figure for 2009-10 and 2010-11 are embargoed until their publication by the Office for National Statistics in September 2011 and 2012, respectively. However, the organisation within the MOD charged with management and procurement of research for CS A, the largest part of the reported expenditure, recorded a net resource outturn of some £466 million for 2009-10 and was allocated a budget of £439 million for 2010-11.
	No final decisions have been taken in the current defence planning round (PR11) on the level of research funding for 2011-12 onwards. However, we expect the science and technology budget to rise slightly in cash terms over the comprehensive spending review period. A complete time series detailing MOD research expenditure is published in UK Defence Statistics (Table 1.8), a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

Departmental Security

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons persons not employed by Government departments or agencies are issued with passes entitling them to enter his Department's premises.

Andrew Robathan: Passes may be issued to individuals who have valid business reasons for making frequent visits to specific Government sites (e.g. contractors), subject to the usual security checks.

European Fighter Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will assess the effect on arrangements for the defence of the  (a) UK and  (b) Falkland Islands from aerial attack of circumstances where Typhoon aircraft are stationed in an air-to-air role outside that airspace.

Nick Harvey: The Typhoon force is of sufficient size that it could support a contingency operation overseas, while at the same time maintaining aircraft at continuous ground readiness to fulfil all Quick Reaction Alert standing commitments at RAF Coningsby, RAF Leuchars and in the Falklands.

European Fighter Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the  (a) cost to date and  (b) future cost of compatibility tests for each type of ground attack weapon deployed from Typhoon aircraft.

Peter Luff: The ground attack weapons currently cleared for use on Typhoon aircraft are Enhanced Paveway II using the Litening III Laser Designation Pod, Paveway II, Unguided 10001b Bomb and the Mauser gun. It is estimated that the total cost of the compatibility tests for these weapons was £4.6 million.
	The Paveway IV bomb, which will also use the Litening III Laser Designation Pod, is currently being cleared for future use on Typhoon aircraft. This weapon is being integrated under the Typhoon Future Capability Programme. It is estimated that the total cost of the compatibility tests for this weapon will be £2.4 million.
	The cost of individual tests is not recorded.

Gurkhas: Ex-servicemen

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the terms of reference are of the cross-Government task force on Gurkha veterans and their families; and whether the task force is to examine  (a) pensions and  (b) other welfare payments to Gurkha veterans;
	(2)  what the date was of the most recent meeting of the cross-Government task force on Gurkha veterans; and on what date the next meeting of the task force is scheduled;
	(3)  which Government departments participate in the cross-Government task force on Gurkha veterans and their families;
	(4)  whether organisations representing Gurkha veterans have been consulted by the cross-Government task force on issues affecting Gurkha veterans and their families.

Andrew Robathan: The aim of the Cross Government Working Group, which was convened following the immigration changes in 2009, was to ensure that ex-Gurkhas in Nepal were able to make an informed decision to come to the UK and if they did so, that there was an end-to-end process to make their settlement as smooth as possible. The Working Group consisted of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), the UK Border Agency, the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department of Local Community and Government, the Department of Health, the Department for Children, Schools and Families, the Cabinet Office, the Foreign Office and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs. The issues of pension and welfare payments were not examined by the Working Group. All ex-Gurkhas who settle in the UK are entitled to apply for the full range of state benefits, if they are unable to work. There are no plans to review this. The Working Group met three times, most recently on 16 February 2010, although most business on the key issues has been and continues to be conducted bilaterally between Government Departments.
	The Cross Government Working Group is being reconvened with a new aim of looking beyond the issue of the settlement process. It will consider what options are available for specific communities who are experiencing strains due to large numbers of ex-Gurkhas and their families who have settled in these areas.
	The MOD provided extensive briefing in 2009 and 2010 for both service charities and ex-Gurkha organisations, in the UK and Nepal, on the work of the Cross Government Working Group.

Improvised Explosive Devices

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much funding he has allocated to counter-improvised explosive device capability in each financial year from 2011-12 to 2014-15.

Liam Fox: A significant proportion of our Counter-Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) capability procured to date has been as a result of Urgent Operational Requirements (UOR) and therefore funded by the Reserve. As specific enhancements in this area are dependent on the evolving threat, future expenditure cannot be predicted with any accuracy. Countering IEDs encompasses a multitude of capabilities and responsibilities spread throughout the Department and hence there is no one central area that holds this information. In relation to Defence funded capabilities, we do not release information for projects that have not reached the main investment decision.

Libya

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has  (a) had any discussions with and  (b) provided any assistance to British universities in securing (i) contracts and (ii) financial support from Libya in the last 10 years.

Liam Fox: Since the appointment of the coalition Government the Ministry of Defence has had no discussions, or provided any assistance, to British universities interested in trading with Libya.

Marines

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the likely effect of the implementation of the measures in the Strategic Defence and Security Review on the  (a) size,  (b) capability and  (c) deployability of the Royal Marines; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: holding answer 14 March 2011
	I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology (Peter Luff) on 21 January 2011,  Official Report, column 1022W.

Military Aircraft

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what UK military assets have been identified for inclusion in contingency plans for the UK to contribute to a no-fly zone over Libya; and how many  (a) air-to-air capable aircraft,  (b) ground attack aircraft,  (c) air-to-air refuelling tankers,  (d) AWACS aircraft and  (e) other supporting assets and personnel will be included in such plans.

Nick Harvey: The Government keeps plans for the use of our armed forces under constant review. A number of contingency plans, including for further humanitarian assistance, enforcing an arms embargo and the implementation of a no-fly zone, are being considered by NATO with respect to Libya. No decisions have been taken and no assets have been committed.

Military Aircraft

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the UK's fast jet capability; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: holding answer 14 March 2011
	In the air defence role Typhoon aircraft are held at readiness to defend UK airspace, including the Falkland Islands, and in the air to ground role Tornado GR4 provides a capable close air support, reconnaissance and offensive strike capability. They can support other contingent operations if required.
	Tornado GR4 is capable of carrying a full array of strike and counter-insurgency weaponry, including a full range of precision guided bombs, Storm Shadow long range stand-off missile and the highly accurate dual-mode seeker Brimstone weapon. Since 2009 it has also provided the United Kingdom contribution to fast jet operations in Afghanistan. The RAPTOR reconnaissance pod is a highly discriminating sensor which provides an unparalleled combination of stand-off and resolution in a tactical system.
	Typhoon deliveries are ongoing and it continues to build up both air defence and multirole capabilities. Our other air defence fighter, the Tornado F3, will be retired when the Typhoon takes over the remaining Quick Reaction Alert duties at the end of this month.
	By around 2020 our fast jet fleet will be made up of two modern and highly capable multi-role combat aircraft, Typhoon and Joint Strike Fighter, which will provide the flexibility and strike-power to deal with a variety of new and existing threats in line with the adaptable posture set out in the Strategic Defence and Security Review.

Military Aircraft: Helicopters

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what type of helicopter was used in the recent mission to transport diplomats to Benghazi, Libya; and when the helicopter was allowed to return to its original basing point.

Liam Fox: I refer the hon. Member to the statement given by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), to the House on 7 March 2011,  Official Report, columns 643-45. I am unable to provide any further operational details.

Military Aircraft: Public Finance

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate has been made of the cost to the public purse of establishing support facilities in Malta for  (a) RAF Tornado aircraft,  (b) RAF Typhoon aircraft,  (c) RAF AWACS aircraft,  (d) RAF air-to-air refuelling tankers and  (e) support infrastructure and personnel; and whether any additional costs would be funded from the contingency reserve.

Nick Harvey: There are currently no RAF Tornados, RAF Typhoons, RAF AWACS or RAF air-to-air refuelling tankers based in Malta and we have no plans for such basing in the future. The additional costs of support infrastructure and personnel for the recent deployment to Malta are currently being assessed and it would be premature to release them at this point. We are looking at whether there are additional costs for evacuating entitled personnel from Libya that it would be appropriate to recover from the reserve or other Government Departments.

Military Bases

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  whether the  (a) sale and  (b) demolition of Hyde Park Barracks is being considered as part of the rationalisation of the defence estate;
	(2)  what discussions  (a) Ministers in his Department and  (b) his officials have had on the (i) sale and (ii) demolition of Hyde Park Barracks.

Andrew Robathan: We keep our estate under continuous review to ensure that it is no larger than is required for defence purposes.
	So far as Hyde Park Barracks is concerned, in addition to the ongoing review of the defence estate, officials have considered the future use of the barracks, but there are currently no plans to redevelop the site.

National Security Council

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military personnel serve on the secretariat of the National Security Council.

Liam Fox: The secretariat to the National Security Council consists of two civilian staff posts. It has no military staff.
	The National Security Secretariat, which supports the delivery of the national security strategy, comprises a broad set of directorates that oversee foreign and defence policy and security, intelligence, and resilience functions across Government-as well as co-ordination of Government response in the event of civil emergencies, terrorist incidents and international crises.
	The National Security Secretariat has five seconded military personnel.

Navy: Military Bases

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what notice his Department proposes to give to service personnel whose ships are to be transferred under his proposed changes to port-basing.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 14 March 2011
	 The Ministry of Defence is currently examining whether there is a case for changing base porting arrangements for the Type 23 frigates. As part of this process consideration will be given to the impact on naval service personnel and their families and give them sufficient notice to enable them to plan their futures. A decision is expected by the end of the year.

Navy: Military Bases

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make an announcement on the port-basing of ships and submarines.

Nick Harvey: holding answer 14 March 2011
	 The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is examining whether there is a case for changing the current base porting arrangements for the Type 23 frigates. We anticipate a decision being made by the end of the year, although no date has been set for making any announcements.
	An announcement on the base porting of the Type 26 global combat ship will be made after the main investment decision point, which is anticipated to be by the middle of this decade.
	The MOD keeps the base porting arrangements for its ships and submarines under continuous review, but, at this time, we have no plans to announce any other base porting changes beyond those outlined above.

Nimrod Aircraft: Decommissioning

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the decommissioning of the Nimrod MRA4 fleet.

Peter Luff: holding answer 14 March 2011
	 I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Armed Forces, my hon. Friend the Member for North Devon (Nick Harvey), on 13 January 2011,  Official Report, column 445W, to the hon. Member for Glasgow South (Mr Harris).

Royal Fleet Auxiliary

Steven Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the involvement of the private sector in the Royal Navy in addition to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

Nick Harvey: The private sector supports the Naval Service in a range of contracted out activities through commercial policy arrangements and includes training, maintenance, catering and cleaning.
	Additionally, under a private finance initiative arrangement six roll-on/roll-off sealift ships (the Point Class) are used to transport military cargoes when required. These are civilian ships with British based crews who are required to be sponsored reserves as a condition of service. They carry no special protection capability. Therefore, when undertaking military work, any force protection measures would be provided by the armed forces.

Strategic Defence and Security Review

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the Strategic Defence and Security Review, how much funding he plans to allocate to introducing a new range of medium weight armoured vehicles, including Terrier engineer vehicles and the Scout reconnaissance vehicles.

Peter Luff: £386 million has been approved for the Terrier engineer vehicle programme which has an in-service date of 2013. The Scout reconnaissance vehicle is part of the wider Specialist Vehicle (SV) programme. A demonstration phase contract worth approximately £500 million was signed in June 2010 for Scout and other early elements of the SV programme. No contract has been signed for the manufacture of Scout, and the remainder of the SV programme has not yet reached its main investment decision point. The Department does not publish the planned costs of programmes before this point. To do otherwise would potentially undermine our commercial position.

Strategic Defence and Security Review

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the Strategic Defence and Security Review, which Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance capabilities will receive increased funding from his Department in each year of the Comprehensive Spending Review period.

Peter Luff: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 November 2010,  Official Report, column 748W.

Strategic Defence and Security Review

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how much he expects his Department to save as a result of the commitment in the Strategic Defence and Security Review to rationalise wider equipment holdings in each year of the comprehensive spending review period;
	(2)  how much he expects his Department to save as a result of the commitment in the Strategic Defence and Security Review to creating a cost-effective training environment in each year of the comprehensive spending review period;
	(3)  how much he expects his Department to save as a result of the commitment in the Strategic Defence and Security Review to reduce the role of the VC-10 transport/tanker aircraft to undertake air-to-air refuelling in each of the comprehensive spending review period;
	(4)  how much he expects his Department to save as a result of the commitment in the Strategic Defence and Security Review to reductions in spend on media and communications in each year of the comprehensive spending review period;
	(5)  how much he expects his Department to save as a result of the commitment in the Strategic Defence and Security Review to efficiencies and improvements in military training, including the increased use of simulators for air-crew and Army live firing, in each year of the comprehensive spending review period.

Peter Luff: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 29 November 2010,  Official Report, column 582W. It is too early to say what potential savings may accrue from the Strategic Defence and Security review in all of the detailed categories listed. Where estimates of itemised savings have been made, I am withholding these as their disclosure would prejudice commercial interests. Much work is now required to work through the detailed implications of Strategic Defence and Security Review decisions and their implementation. We will be providing the fullest possible information as progress is made.

Strategic Defence and Security Review

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the Strategic Defence and Security Review, how much funding he has allocated to introducing protected support vehicles to replace unprotected versions that are no longer suitable.

Peter Luff: Decisions on the funding of the protected support vehicles programmes, will be made at their respective main investment decision points. The Ministry of Defence does not publish the planned costs of the programmes before this point. To do otherwise would potentially undermine our commercial position.

Strategic Defence and Security Review

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what level of reduction in the planned number of Joint Strike Fighter aircraft he expects to arise as a result of the outcome of the Strategic Defence and Security Review.

Peter Luff: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 3 November 2010,  Official Report, columns 852-3W to the hon. Member for Glenrothes (Lindsay Roy), the hon. Member for North Durham (Mr Jones) and the hon. Member for Moray (Angus Robertson).

Strategic Defence and Security Review

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what new capabilities he plans to purchase using the funding allocated to cyber security by the Strategic Defence and Security Review;
	(2)  who sits on the UK Defence Cyber Operations Group; how many times the Group has met since its creation; what the agenda was for each meeting; and what executive powers the Group has;
	(3)  what plans he has for the allocation of funding for cyber security announced in the Strategic Defence and Security Review; and what capability benefits will result from this expenditure.

Andrew Robathan: As stated in the National Security Strategy the Government believes that attacks through cyberspace constitute a threat to our national security on a par with terrorism. We are investing an extra £650 million over the spending review period to address this threat. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) will play its part by incorporating cyber security into the mainstream of defence planning and operations; supported by the establishment of a Defence Cyber Operations Group (DCOG).
	We have set up a formal Defence cyber security change programme to deliver our Strategic Defence and Security Review commitments by 2015 and transform the way Defence approaches cyber operations. A two-star military officer has been appointed to drive implementation and will be chairing a programme board with representation from within the MOD, the Cabinet Office and other Government Departments. We have established a strong cyber policy and plans team which will develop MOD cyber policy, lay the ground work for the establishment of the DCOG, and will enhance MOD's cyber capabilities. By 2015, the DCOG will be fully operational, manned and equipped.

Strategic Defence and Security Review

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the strategic defence and security review (SDSR), how much his Department will bear the risk of the capability gaps that will arise as a result of the outcome of the SDSR.

Liam Fox: The strategic defence and security review sets out the capabilities we will be enhancing and those we will be removing or gapping from the armed forces as we move towards the Future Force 2020 structure. We recognise that there will be risks associated with these decisions. We are managing these risks by: ensuring our operations in Afghanistan are prioritised; maintaining our military strategic intelligence capability; ensuring we have adaptable capabilities; deepening our partnerships; preserving the ability to reconstitute our levels of military capability in areas which are currently lower priority; and, by maintaining our strategic deterrent.

Strategic Defence and Security Review

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how much he expects his Department to save as a result of the commitment in the Strategic Defence and Security Review to rationalise his Department's estate including the sale of surplus land and buildings and associated running cost reductions and running cost savings across the estate in each year of the Comprehensive Spending Review period;
	(2)  how much he expects his Department to save as a result of the commitment in the Strategic Defence and Security Review to a revised approach to managing and delivering infrastructure services across his Department's estate in each year of the Comprehensive Spending Review period.

Andrew Robathan: The Secretary of State for Defence, the right hon. Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox), announced on 16 February 2011,  Official Report, column 78W, that the formation of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation would result in savings of some £1.2 billion for the first four years, from estate running costs, and the disposal of surplus land and buildings. Precise details are being finalised, including those as part of the re-basing study currently under way, but we would expect about half of it to be delivered through greater efficiency in the management and delivery of infrastructure services leading to savings in manpower and contract costs.

Strategic Defence and Security Review

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what capability gaps he has identified as resulting from the outcome of the strategic defence and security review.

Liam Fox: To address the deficit in the Defence budget and contribute to wider deficit reduction a number of capabilities had to be either removed or gapped. These are set out in the strategic defence and security review White Paper.

Submarines

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the establishment is at all ranks of the Royal Navy Submarine Service.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 14 March 2011
	The permanent posts for the Royal Navy Submarine Service as of March 2011 are:
	
		
			  Preferred rank  Total 
			 Vice Admiral 2 
			 Commodore 5 
			 Captain 27 
			 Commander 99 
			 Lieutenant Commander 195 
			 Lieutenant 310 
			 Warrant Office 1 95 
			 Warrant Office 2 204 
			 Chief Petty Officer 660 
			 Petty Officer 390 
			 Leading Hand 569 
			 Able Seaman 922 
			 Total 3,478 
		
	
	It should be noted that this list may change depending on the programmes of the submarine fleet. These figures include the full complement of the Royal Navy submarine posts (including the system of six crews to man the four Vanguard-class ballistic missile submarines). Also included are posts for submarine personnel, based in shore positions across Defence, who are acting in support of the fleet but not assigned to individual submarines.

Surveillance

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the surveillance needs of the UK  (a) now,  (b) in 2015 and  (c) in 2020; and what plans he has to meet these needs.

Andrew Robathan: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer the Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, the hon. Member for Mid Worcestershire (Peter Luff), gave on 29 November 2010,  Official Report, column 583W.

Voluntary Work and Charitable Donations

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  whether his Department has a policy to encourage its employees to  (a) volunteer and  (b) donate via payroll giving;
	(2)  what steps his Department has taken to support the big society initiative;
	(3)  whether  (a) he and  (b) Ministers in his Department are participating in volunteering activities as part of his Department's involvement in the big society initiative.

Andrew Robathan: The big society is an approach and philosophy which is at the heart of the Government's reforms across all policy areas with the aim of localising power and opening up public services and encouraging social action. Each Department has a range of specific programmes which will contribute to growing the big society. These policies are co-ordinated across Government through meetings at official and ministerial level, including the Informal Ministerial Group on the Big Society and Localism, which shares ideas and supports progress on cross cutting-issues relating to the big society.
	The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has been involved with the big society initiative since its launch in July 2010 with Ministers and Officials attending the inter-ministerial and director general meetings respectively. MOD personnel have also been actively involved in desk level discussion on big society and National Citizen Service initiatives.
	My ministerial colleagues and I are committed to leading the way to get more Defence professionals to use their skills through active involvement with charities and voluntary groups.
	For civil servants within the MOD, the Department has in place policy, rules and guidance on special leave that provide staff and their managers with a framework within which to support time off to engage in big society goals and volunteering activities. Those can include local Government work, magisterial duties and other unpaid voluntary public service.
	There are a number of initiatives already in place, including:
	 Cadet Forces:
	The Ministry of Defence has four sponsored Cadet Forces: the Sea Cadet Corps, the Army Cadet Force, the Air Cadet Force and the Combined Cadet Force. They are among the UK's largest and most successful youth organisations, having a long history of preparing young people for all walks of life and encouraging an active involvement in local communities. There are currently 133,000 cadets and 25,000 adult volunteers across the cadet movement.
	 Defence Youth Engagement Review:
	The MOD is currently conducting a comprehensive review of youth engagement with the aim of determining its youth engagement requirement and methods to deliver it. Interim findings are anticipated in mid 2011 and final recommendations by the end of 2011
	 The MOD Education Outreach Programme:
	A programme aimed at 'giving students a start'. The MOD undertakes this as a demonstration of commitment to our corporate social responsibility and a visible contribution to helping develop the skills of the next generation. The programme provides a tangible example of the volunteering ethos of the MOD staff, both military and civilian, and relies on over 30 mentors and supporters, all of whom are volunteers.
	Additionally in the south west, HMS Raleigh is assisting Torbay Youth Service with their National Citizen Service by providing a week's accommodation for two pilot programmes.
	Across the civil service, Departments including the MOD recently communicated a policy encouraging staff to make full use of special leave provision in their particular Department to volunteer for the 2012 Olympics, as well as contributing their own time alongside any given by Departments.
	MOD employees are able to contribute to charities by deduction from salary or pension. Regular articles in 'in house' magazines encourage staff to donate via payroll giving.
	To build on this further and to support the big society initiative, the MOD will continue to work alongside other Government Departments through the Civil Service Volunteering Group to communicate to all staff what opportunities will be available to them, and encourage their participation.

Warships: Repairs and Maintenance

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 8 March 2011,  Official Report, column 917W, on submarines and warships, what the  (a) name and  (b) type is of each (i) destroyer and (ii) frigate not currently part of the operational schedule undergoing deep maintenance.

Peter Luff: holding answer 14 March 2011
	 The Type 23 frigates HMS Northumberland, HMS Lancaster and HMS Kent are currently in refit. In addition the Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh and Type 23 Frigate HMS Argyll are both in post refit sea training and the Type 45 HMS Dauntless, which has recently joined the fleet, has not completed basic operational sea training. These ships are also therefore not available for operations.

HOME DEPARTMENT

101 Calls

Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the level of usage of the national non-emergency number.

Nick Herbert: The '101' non-emergency telephone number is not yet a national service.

Arrests: Brighton

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many arrests were made in Brighton and Hove under section 73 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 in  (a) 2008,  (b) 2009 and  (c) 2010;
	(2)  how many arrests were made in Brighton and Hove under section 6 (1) of the Criminal Law Act 1977 in  (a) 2008,  (b) 2009 and  (c) 2010.

James Brokenshire: The information requested on arrests is not collected centrally.
	The arrests collection held by the Home Office covers arrests for recorded crime (notifiable offences) only, broken down at a main offence group level, covering categories such as violence against the person and robbery. From these centrally reported categories, it is not possible to identify arrests under the particular acts stated.
	The most recent data published on arrests (2008-09) by the Home Office can be found at the following link:
	http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/police-powers.html

Asylum

Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of time elapsed between an application for asylum and final determination of the case in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Damian Green: In the last 12 months the average length of time elapsed between an application for asylum and final determination of the case was 263 calendar days.
	In answering this question we have assumed the date of final determination to be the date an application was either granted or became appeal rights exhausted (ARE)
	For those cases which either
	(1) had no re-course to appeal;
	(2) chose not to exercise appeal rights; or
	(3) appealed out-of-time, we have taken final determination to be the date of initial decision.
	All figures quoted are internal management information only and are subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols.

Asylum

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she plans to take to ensure refugees can access  (a) employment,  (b) housing and  (c) financial assistance from 1 April 2011; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: Individuals granted refugee status have full entitlement to access public funds and services.
	The Refugee Integration and Employment Service currently provides help and support for new refugees in addressing their integration needs and accessing their entitlements. These contracts expire in September 2011 in line with the agreed contract term.
	From October it is proposed that the most vulnerable new refugees will continue to be able to access advice and signposting through the end to end advisory and support services for refugees and asylum seekers which will continue to be delivered under extended agreements with the voluntary sector.

Asylum: Advisory Services

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to make an assessment of the effects on refugees of reductions in the budget for advice services for refugees at the end of financial year 2011-12; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: The Government have extended grant agreements with voluntary sector partners to provide advice and support services for asylum seekers for a further period of two years. The levels of funding provided by these grant agreements have been reduced in line with reductions in the numbers of people claiming asylum and in the numbers of people in receipt of asylum support and therefore in need of these services.

Asylum: Community Relations

Ben Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment her Department has made of the potential effects on levels of community cohesion of reductions in funding for refugee integration programmes.

Damian Green: We do not believe that the reductions in funding for refugee integration activity will have a significant impact on community cohesion. It is proposed that the most vulnerable new refugees will continue to be able to access advice and signposting through the end to end advisory and support services for refugees and asylum seekers which will continue to be delivered under extended agreements with the voluntary sector. UK Border Agency officials will be co-chairing a working group with the voluntary sector to identify practical, cost neutral, solutions to address the integration needs of refugees.

Asylum: Community Relations

Ben Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has for future funding for the integration of refugees after they are granted limited leave to remain.

Damian Green: It is proposed that the most vulnerable new refugees will continue to be able to access advice and signposting through the end to end advisory and support services for refugees and asylum seekers which will continue to be delivered under extended agreements with the voluntary sector. UK Border Agency officials will be co-chairing a working group with the voluntary sector to identify practical, cost neutral, solutions to address the integration needs of refugees. The membership will include representatives from other Government Departments.

Asylum: Community Relations

Ben Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment her Department has made of the likely effect on the budgets of  (a) other Government departments and  (b) local authorities of the cessation of her Department's funding for refugee integration.

Damian Green: Individuals granted refugee status have full entitlement to access public funds and services. The impact of the reduction in funding on the budgets of other Departments and local authorities will therefore be minimal. UK Border Agency officials will be co-chairing a working group with the voluntary sector to identify practical cost neutral solutions to address the integration needs of refugees. The membership will include representatives from other Government Departments.

Asylum: Scotland

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has any plans to open an office of the UK Border Agency to process claims relating to asylum seekers resident in Scotland in  (a) Glasgow,  (b) Edinburgh and  (c) Aberdeen.

Damian Green: holding answer 14 March 2011
	 There are currently no plans to open an asylum screening unit in Scotland; however claims relating to asylum seekers are routinely processed at our offices in Glasgow after initial screening.
	We have always been clear that anyone seeking asylum should do so at the first available opportunity-this means on arrival at a port of entry. Only those who have failed to claim on arrival have to travel to Croydon to make their asylum application.
	We recognise there may be a small number of exceptional cases who are unable to travel to Croydon. Applicants, whose circumstances are such that they are unable to travel to Croydon, may have their application recorded and screened at a local regional office. This will be decided on a case-by-case basis.

Asylum: Scotland

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the annual cost to the public purse of processing initial applications for asylums in Scotland.

Damian Green: holding answer 14 March 2011
	We do not hold these cost estimates but we are currently developing a process to cost our different outputs, for example asylum conclusion. We will seek to publish this information in due course.

Asylum: Scotland

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effects of reductions in the budget for the UK Border Agency on refugee charities in Scotland in receipt of funding from that body.

Damian Green: The Government have extended grant agreements with voluntary sector partners in Scotland to provide advice and support services for asylum seekers for a further period of two years. The levels of funding provided by these grant agreements have been reduced in line with reductions in the numbers of people claiming asylum and in the numbers of people in receipt of asylum support and therefore in need of these services.

Avi Benayahu

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the circumstances of Mr Avi Benayahu's entry into the UK in 2010; and what her policy is on the use by foreign nationals of false names on entry into the UK.

Damian Green: The Home Office does not routinely comment on individual cases. As part of the UK Border Agency's responsibility to secure the border and identify and prevent crime, its officers check all arriving passengers against the Watchlist and examine documents to ensure that they are genuine.

Avi Benayahu

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when her Department was first informed of the intention of Mr Avi Benayahu to enter the UK under a false identity.

Damian Green: The Home Office does not routinely comment on individual cases.

British Nationality

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people resident in each London borough have been naturalised as UK citizens since 2005.

Damian Green: In order to become naturalised as a British citizen an applicant needs to have attended a citizenship ceremony. The following table provides information relating to the number of applicants for naturalisation who have attended a citizenship ceremony.
	This information is taken from local management information provided by UK Border Agency, North West Region Planning and MI Team. It is not a National Statistic and as such it should be treated as provisional and therefore subject to change.
	
		
			  Naturalisation cases attending a British citizenship ceremony in the London boroughs, 2005 - 10( 1) 
			   Ceremony attended 
			  Local authority  2005  2006  2007  2008  2009  2010 
			 Total Greater London 62,075 55,375 60,945 41,265 62,740 56,390 
			
			 Barking and Dagenham 1,505 1,385 1,600 970 1,750 1,510 
			 Barnet 2,715 2,290 2,770 1,925 2,735 2,315 
			 Bexley 580 540 600 390 740 595 
			 Borough of Sutton (London) 630 575 850 500 800 815 
			 Brent 3,530 3,120 3,380 2,360 3,245 3,060 
			 Bromley 715 675 850 550 905 900 
			 Camden 1,965 1,675 1,860 1,210 2,185 1,995 
			 Corporation of the City of London 80 85 85 55 35 20 
			 Croydon 1,940 1,850 2,105 1,540 2,190 1,990 
			 Ealing 3,775 3,040 3,835 2,520 3,175 2,940 
			 Enfield 2,740 2,620 2,325 1,925 2,900 2,415 
			 Greenwich 1,640 1,375 1,620 905 1,600 1,405 
			 Hackney 2,375 2,195 1,820 1,355 2,065 1,805 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,550 1,505 1,545 915 1,230 1,040 
			 Haringey 3,065 2,390 2,215 1,665 2,150 1,830 
			 Harrow 2,385 1,735 2,275 1,370 2,290 2,300 
			 Havering 3B0 340 450 265 480 440 
			 Hillingdon 1,705 1,440 1,930 1,275 1,870 1,890 
			 Hounslow 2,260 2,015 2,260 1,635 2,225 2,120 
			 Islington 1,610 1,630 1,675 1,025 1,655 1,300 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 1,590 1,140 1,300 755 1,220 1,015 
			 Kingston upon Thames 785 680 1,035 525 935 690 
			 Lambeth 2,415 2,215 2,255 1,525 2,070 1,715 
			 Lewisham 1,925 1,650 2,130 1,350 1,905 1,720 
			 Merton 1,440 1,485 1,780 1,060 1,915 1,715 
			 Newham 3,335 3,025 3,035 2,305 3,545 3,320 
			 Redbridge 2,015 1,750 1,875 1,225 2,090 2,070 
			 Richmond upon Thames 835 715 790 480 780 675 
			 Southwark 2,610 2,395 2,720 1,825 2,815 2,550 
			 Tower Hamlets 1,555 1,860 1,345 1,265 2,790 2,460 
			 Waltham Forest 1,990 1,830 1,835 1,430 1,890 1,710 
			 Wandsworth 2,025 2,080 2,305 1,630 2,510 2,160 
			 Westminster 2,415 2,080 2,490 1,510 2,055 1,890 
			 (1) Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5, totals may not sum to their components due to rounding.  Source:  Local Management Information provided by UK Border Agency, North West Region Planning and MI Team and is not a National Statistic. As such it should be treated as provisional and therefore subject to change.

Departmental Land

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will take steps to reduce the size of her Department's estate; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: The Department is taking steps to reduce the size of its office estate. Measures to deliver this include consolidation of accommodation across the Home Office Group and the adoption where practicable of the Government's workplace standards of eight square metres per person and a ratio of eight workstations per 10 staff. Estate consolidations are under way in London, Croydon and Liverpool. In Croydon for instance buildings totalling 26000 square metres were surrendered last December. Plans for further significant consolidations are being developed in other major cities and in back office accommodation held at ports of entry.

Departmental Procurement

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many procurement projects with a monetary value greater than  (a) £10 million,  (b) £50 million and  (c) £100 million (i) her Department and (ii) each non-departmental public body and agency for which she is responsible was engaged upon in the latest period for which figures are available.

Damian Green: The number of current procurement projects and programmes in the Home Office, including its agencies and non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) is as follows:
	
		
			  Whole life cost (£ million)  Number 
			  (a) £10 million to <£50 million 23 
			  (b) £50 million to <£100 million 5 
			  (c) £100 million+ 25 
		
	
	The values represent the whole life costs of the projects and programmes and thus include past, current and future costs.

Departmental Regulation

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions her Department has consulted representatives of small businesses on the effects of proposed new regulations since 6 May 2010.

Damian Green: There have been 16 public consultations by the Home Department since 6 May 2010 which have been published on the Home Office website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/consultations/
	Representatives of small business are asked to contribute when this is appropriate. In addition, representatives are consulted on a more informal basis in routine policy development by the Department.

Departmental Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what regulations her Department introduced between 9 and 28 February 2011.

Damian Green: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	The following three statutory instruments in the form of regulations were made by the Home Department between 9 and 28 February 2011.
	
		
			  S . I. n umber  S.I. title  Made date 
			 2011 No. 300 The Police Act 1996 (Equipment) Regulations 2011 9 February 2011 
			 2011 No. 448 The Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) (England, Wales and Scotland) Regulations 2011 18 February 2011 
			 2011 No. 544 The Accession (Immigration and Worker Registration)(Revocation, Savings and Consequential Provisions) Regulations 2011 24 February 2011

Departmental Written Questions

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of written questions tabled to her for answer on a named day between 27 May 2010 and 9 March 2011 did not receive a substantive answer on the day named for answer.

James Brokenshire: From 27 May 2010 until 9 March 2011, the Home Office gave a substantive answer to 260 out of 777 (33.5%) questions for answer on a named day on the day named for answer.

Human Trafficking: Olympic Games 2012

Tessa Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she has taken to assess the risk of human trafficking in the period before the London 2012 Olympics.

Damian Green: Intelligence on risks to the 2012 Olympics, including human trafficking, is assessed on a quarterly basis through the Olympics organised crime threat assessment.

Human Trafficking: Olympic Games 2012

Tessa Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to allocate resources to the Metropolitan police for work to counter the risk of human trafficking during the period of the London 2012 Olympics.

Damian Green: Tackling human trafficking is core police business. To date we have not seen any evidence of an increase in trafficking around the Olympics. However, we remain vigilant and the Metropolitan police service has received extra funding from the Migration Impact Fund to prioritise activities to disrupt prostitution and recover victims around the Olympic park.

Identity Cards: Foreign Nationals

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many biometric residence permits she expects to be issued to non-EEA nationals in each of the five years from 2011.

Damian Green: Based on previous levels, and grants, of applications for leave to remain it is estimated that approximately 340,000 biometric residence permits (BRPs) will be issued each year, subject to any policy changes.

Identity Cards: Foreign Nationals

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many biometric residence permits have been issued to non-EEA foreign nationals.

Damian Green: Biometric residence permits were introduced on 25 November 2008 and as at 4 March 2011, just over 409,000 have been issued.

Identity Cards: Foreign Nationals

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of issuing biometric residence permits to non-EEA foreign nationals.

Damian Green: There is no cost to the public purse in issuing biometric residence permits to non-European economic area (EEA) nationals. Costs are met by the fees recovered from applicants and the financial benefits accruing from the issue of biometric residence permits.

Identity Cards: Foreign Nationals

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will state  (a) how and  (b) where biometric data from residence permits issued to non-EEA foreign nationals will be stored.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency collects a facial image and 10 fingerprints, from each non-EEA foreign national applicant applying for a biometric residence permit, which are stored electronically on the agency's database and on the permit.

Illegal Immigrants: Taxation

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will estimate the number of illegal migrants working in the UK who  (a) pay tax and  (b) make national insurance contributions.

Damian Green: There is no official Government estimation for the number of illegal workers in the UK and it is therefore not possible to estimate how many illegal migrants working in the UK pay tax or make national insurance contributions.

Immigrants: English Language

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what means she ensures that providers of secure English language tests adhere to the Common European Framework.

Damian Green: To date the UK Border Agency has conducted its own checks to ensure that providers of secure English language tests adhere to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).
	The UK Border Agency is currently refreshing its list of providers and is requiring prospective providers to provide evidence to show how their tests map against the CEFR. The UK Border Agency is verifying this mapping with the help of an independent expert in the CEFR.
	The UK Border Agency will be carrying out independent checks to ensure that tests being completed conform to the relevant level on the CEFR.

Immigrants: English Language

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many student visas included the requirement for the applicant to have passed a secure English language test in the last 12 months; and how many such tests were administered by each provider.

Damian Green: Secure English Language Testing (SELT) for Tier 4 (General) Student Visa applicants wishing to study a course below degree level was introduced on 12 August 2010. There are exemptions for:
	applicants intending to study for foundation degrees;
	applicants intending to study for English language courses, including pre-sessional courses;
	applicants from majority English speaking countries; and
	applicants those moving from Tier 4 (Child).
	There is no English language requirement for Tier 4 (Child) applicants.
	The UK Border Agency does not keep a separate central record of those applicants who are required to pass the SELT. This information could be obtained by checking individual records only at disproportionate cost.
	The UK Border Agency does not have a record of how many tests have been administered by each provider.

Immigration Controls

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many accreditation bodies are currently approved by the UK Border Agency; and when that approval is scheduled to end in each case.

Damian Green: Each of the five UK Border Agency approved accreditation bodies were approved for an initial period of two years. The Accreditation Service for International Colleges, Accreditation UK, the British Accreditation Council were all approved in July 2007. The Association of British Language Schools was approved in March 2009, and the Church of England Ministry Division in May .2009. The government has made clear in it recent consultation on student visas that it intends to strengthen the current arrangements for accreditation. The existing approvals have not therefore been formally renewed, pending decisions on the longer-term arrangements. However the accreditation bodies are continuing to provide the service for which they were approved.

Immigration Controls: Musicians

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will take steps to facilitate the granting of work permits and visas to foreign professional musicians invited to perform at concerts in the UK.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency is committed to providing a first-class visa service meeting its customer service targets for processing applications. 95% of non-settlement applications are processed within three weeks and many applications are dealt with much faster. Although applicants are advised to allow sufficient time for their applications to be processed, visa sections overseas recognise that this is not always possible and will expedite cases where there is an urgent and genuine need to travel.
	The agency's partnerships and engagement team also often helps secure visas for musicians and other artists in cases of last minute substitution or injury. The team regularly receives positive feedback from the arts and entertainment sector on its service delivery and intervention in high profile and genuine cases.

Missing Persons

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of States contribution on 26 October 2011,  Official Report, column 59WH, on missing persons, when she expects to publish the findings of the review into the recommendations of the Missing Taskforce Review.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has carried out an assessment of the 22 recommendations in the Missing Taskforce Review. Seven have already been delivered, action is under way on a further 10 and the remainder are subject to further consideration. We are working with our counterparts in other Government Departments to consider what further action is needed in this important area, taking account of other relevant developments including, for example, the Munro Review of Child Protection and the transfer of responsibility for missing children from the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP).

Police: Crime

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the  (a) number of police officers and  (b) crime rate was in the North Wales police force area in each of the last 20 years.

Nick Herbert: Data on police officer strength in North Wales as at 31 March 1990 to 31 March 2009 and 30 September 2010 are given in Table A. Offences recorded in North Wales per 100,000 population, from 1990 to 2009-10 are given in Table B.
	The latest provisional Police Service Strength statistics were published on 27 January 2011 and can be found at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/policeorg1.html
	Bulletins for this and previous years are deposited in the Library of the House.
	The latest financial year recorded crime statistics were published in July 2010 and are available online at:
	http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/crimeew0910.html
	
		
			  Table A: Police officer strength (FTE)( 1)  in North Wales as at 31 March 1990 to 31 March 2009( 2,3)  and 30 September 2010 
			   Police officer strength 
			 1990 1,337 
			 1991 1,349 
			 1992 1,347 
			 1993 1,360 
			 1994 1,352 
			 1995 1,366 
			 1996 1,378 
			 1997 1,369 
			 1998 1,396 
			 1999 1,391 
			 2000 1,403 
			 2001 1,444 
			 2002 1,506 
			 2003(3) 1,539 
			 2004(3) 1,603 
			 2005(3) 1,645 
			 2006(3) 1,617 
			 2007(3) 1,591 
			 2008(3) 1,566 
			 2009(3) 1,578 
			 2010(3) 1,573 
			 30 September 2010 1,547 
			 1. Full Time Equivalent. All officers less staff on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave (comparable with previously published figures) 2. This and other tables contain full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items. 3. Comparable strength (excludes those on career breaks, or maternity/paternity leave). The Police Numbers Task Force (2001) recommended that a clear presentation was made of the numbers of staff employed by police forces including those seconded into the force and those on any type of long or short term absence. These new calculations were first used in 2003, and are not comparable with data prior to March 2003. The data from 2003 onwards used here are termed comparable because they have been calculated on the old basis to allow comparison. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Offences recorded in North Wales per 100,000 population 
			   Rate per 100,000 population 
			 1990 5,805 
			 1991 6,804 
			 1992 7,537 
			 1993 7,351 
			 1994 6,623 
			 1995 6,331 
			 1996 6,228 
			 1997 (1)6,203 
			 1998-99 6,684 
			 1999-2000 6,785 
			 2000-01 7,207 
			 2001-02 (2)8,154 
			 2002-03 9,807 
			 2003-04 9,263 
			 2004-05 8,051 
			 2005-06 7,488 
			 2006-07 7,957 
			 2007-08 6,766 
			 2008-09 6,824 
			 2009-10 6,626 
			 (1) The coverage was expanded and counting rules changed in 1998-99. Figures before and after that date are not directly comparable. (2) The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced in 2002-03. Figures before and after that date are not directly comparable.

Police: Local Government

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has plans to enable local authorities to access police data systems in order to tackle housing benefit and council tax fraud.

Nick Herbert: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 7 March 2011,  Official Report, column 872W.

Students: Visas

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department from how many UK institutions graduates can receive a post study work visa; and for what types of degrees in each case.

Damian Green: The information is not centrally recorded in the format requested and could be obtained by a manual check of individual case records only at disproportionate cost.

Students: Visas

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people received a post-study work visa in 2009; and how many such people had received a  (a) UK recognised bachelor or postgraduate degree,  (b) a UK postgraduate certificate in education or Professional Graduate Diploma of Education and  (c) a Higher National Diploma from a Scottish institution.

Damian Green: In 2009 38,425 post study work visas were issued.
	In order to qualify for a post study work visa either a migrant must have been awarded a United Kingdom recognised bachelor's or postgraduate degree, a United Kingdom Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) or Professional Graduate Diploma of Education (PGDE), or Higher National Diploma (HND) from a Scottish institution. It is not possible to provide a breakdown of which of these degree types are used to qualify under this route.

Vetting

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the policy of the Criminal Records Bureau is on who may use the title Ms in applications for a Criminal Records Bureau check.

Lynne Featherstone: The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) has no policy which outlines who may use the title Ms. There are no restrictions placed by the CRB on applicants as to which title they choose to use when completing a CRB application form.

Vetting

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were subject to a discretionary bar by the Independent Safeguarding Authority in  (a) 2009 and  (b) 2010.

Lynne Featherstone: holding answer 14 March 2011
	The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) commenced independent decision-making on 20 January 2009. Using its discretionary barring powers, the ISA barred 28 people in 2009 and 422 people in 2010.
	This figure excludes barring decisions for auto-bar offences, as well as any barring decisions made on those people who were included on the previous barred lists and whom the ISA has 'determined' under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, (Transitory Provisions) Order 2009 should be placed on the ISA barred lists.

Vetting

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Criminal Records Bureau checks were issued in 2010 to those working in the gaming industry.

Lynne Featherstone: The information requested is not recorded by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). When making applications for CRB checks, individuals and employers are asked to provide the details of the specific position that is being applied for rather than the employment sector or industry.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Confiscation Orders

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Attorney-General how many confiscation orders have been obtained by the Serious Fraud Office's Proceeds of Crime Unit in 2010-11 to date; and what the total monetary value is of such orders.

Edward Garnier: The Serious Fraud Office has obtained 14 confiscation orders in the financial year to date. The total value of these orders is £28,307,690.66.

Fraud: Prosecutions

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Attorney-General 
	(1)  how many people have been convicted in cases brought by the Serious Fraud Office in 2010-11; and what the conviction rate for cases brought by the Serious Fraud Office has been in 2010-11 to date;
	(2)  how many cases have been brought by the Serious Fraud Office in 2010-11; and how many defendants have been tried in such cases;
	(3)  what the caseload of the Serious Fraud Office has been in 2010-11 to date.

Dominic Grieve: The conviction rate for cases concluded so far in year 2010-11 is 83%. 30 defendants were tried (individuals and corporates). Of these 30 defendants 25 were found guilty and five were acquitted. This covered a total of 15 cases.
	The Serious Fraud Office case load naturally fluctuates throughout the year, on average they handle around 100 active cases. These cases will be at pre trial, trial and post trial stages.

HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate: Redundancy

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Attorney-General 
	(1)  how much funding HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate has allocated to redundancy costs in each financial year from 2011-12 to 2014-15;
	(2)  how many staff HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate expects to make  (a) voluntarily and  (b) compulsorily redundant in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) each year from 2011-12 to 2014-15; and from what roles he expects such staff to be made redundant;
	(3)  how much HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate has spent on redundancy costs in 2010-11 to date;
	(4)  how many staff HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate has made redundant in 2010-11 to date; and from what roles such staff have been made redundant;
	(5)  how much funding HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate allocated to redundancy costs in 2010-11.

Edward Garnier: HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate has not made any staff redundant in 2010-11 and has no plans to do so. Currently there are also no plans for any staff redundancies in the period 2011-12 to 2014-15, and consequently no funds have been allocated to cover redundancies over this period.

Serious Fraud Office: Redundancy

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Attorney-General 
	(1)  how much funding the Serious Fraud Office has allocated to redundancy costs in each financial year from 2011-12 to 2014-15;
	(2)  how many staff the Serious Fraud Office expects to make  (a) voluntarily and  (b) compulsorily redundant in each financial year from 2011-12 to 2014-15;
	(3)  how many staff the Serious Fraud Office expects to make redundant in each financial year from 2011-12 to 2014-15; and from what roles staff are expected to be made redundant;
	(4)  how much funding the Serious Fraud Office allocated to meet redundancy costs in 2010-11;
	(5)  how many staff the Serious Fraud Office expects to make  (a) voluntarily and  (b) compulsorily redundant in 2010-11;
	(6)  how many staff the Serious Fraud Office expects to make redundant in 2010-11; and from what roles staff are expected to be made redundant;
	(7)  how much the Serious Fraud Office has spent on redundancy costs in 2010-11 to date;
	(8)  how many staff the Serious Fraud Office has made redundant in 2010-11 to date; and from what roles staff have been made redundant.

Edward Garnier: The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has not made any staff redundant in the 2010-11 period or has any plans to do so. The SFO also has no current plans for voluntary or compulsory redundancies for the period 2011-12 to 2014-15 and consequently no monies have been set aside in this period for compulsory or voluntary redundancy.

Treasury Solicitors Department: Finance

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Attorney-General 
	(1)  what the  (a) resource and  (b) capital budget of the Treasury Solicitors Department (i) is in 2010-11 and (ii) will be in each year of the comprehensive spending review period;
	(2)  what the  (a) resource and  (b) capital budget of the Treasury Solicitors Department (i) is for 2010-11 and (ii) will be in each year of the Comprehensive Spending Review period.

Edward Garnier: The information requested is contained in the following table.
	
		
			  Treasury Solicitors Department 
			  £ 
			   Resource  Capital 
			 2010-11 4,785,000 3,510,000 
			 2011-12 5,240,000 1,700,000 
			 2012-13 5,140,000 1,700,000 
			 2013-14 4,540,000 1,700,000 
			 2014-15 3,660,000 1,700,000

Treasury Solicitors Department: Finance

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Attorney-General under what budget headings reductions in expenditure will be made by the Treasury Solicitors Department following the outcome of the comprehensive spending review; and by how much expenditure will be reduced under each heading.

Edward Garnier: The planned expenditure for the Treasury Solicitors Department over the spending review period as agreed with Treasury is as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			   Revenue  Capital 
			 2010-11 4,785,000 3,510,000 
			 2011-12 5,240,000 1,700,000 
			 2012-13 5,140,000 1,700,000 
			 2013-14 4,540,000 1,700,000 
			 2014-15 3,660,000 1,700,000 
		
	
	The revenue funding is to cover three budget headings: the cost of the public interest work TSol undertakes for the Attorney-General, our European division and the Government Legal Service (GLS) Secretariat. The expenditure will reduce by 33% in real terms over the spending review period from 2010-11 levels.
	The capital funding is to meet our administration capital requirements.

Treasury Solicitors Department: Manpower

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Attorney-General how many  (a) permanent and  (b) non-permanent staff the Treasury Solicitors Department expects to employ at (i) the end of March 2011 and (ii) the end of each subsequent financial year in the comprehensive spending review period.

Edward Garnier: The Treasury Solicitors Department expects to employ  (a) 819 full-time equivalent permanent staff and  (b) 75 full-time equivalent non permanent staff at the end of March 2011.
	The Treasury Solicitor's Department provides legal services to Government Departments, who pay for the cost of those services. Staffing levels are, therefore, largely determined by client demand. There will be reductions in back office staff but it is anticipated that they will be redeployed on client work.
	It is not, therefore, currently planned to change the overall number of staff during the spending review period.

Treasury Solicitors Dept: Redundancy

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Attorney-General 
	(1)  how much the Treasury Solicitors Department has spent on redundancy costs in 2010-11 to date;
	(2)  how many staff the Treasury Solicitors Department has made redundant in 2010-11 to date; and from what roles staff have been made redundant;
	(3)  how many staff the Treasury Solicitors Department expects to make redundant in 2010-11; and from what roles staff are expected to be made redundant;
	(4)  how many staff the Treasury Solicitors Department expects to make  (a) voluntarily and  (b) compulsorily redundant in 2010-11;
	(5)  how much funding the Treasury Solicitors Department has allocated to meet redundancy costs in 2010-11.

Edward Garnier: The Treasury Solicitors Department have not made any staff redundant in 2010-11 and no redundancy costs have been incurred.
	There are no plans for staff redundancies in 2010-11 and thus no funds have been allocated to meet redundancy costs.

Treasury Solicitors Dept: Redundancy

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Attorney-General 
	(1)  how many staff the Treasury Solicitors Department expects to make (a) voluntarily and  (b) compulsorily redundant in each financial year from 2011-12 to 2014-15; and from what roles staff are expected to be made redundant;
	(2)  how much funding the Treasury Solicitors Department has allocated to redundancy costs in each financial year from 2011-12 to 2014-15.

Edward Garnier: The Treasury Solicitors Department has no plans for any staff redundancies from 2011-12 to 2014-15 at this stage and no funds have been specifically allocated to redundancies in budgets over this period.
	The Treasury Solicitor's Department provides legal services to Government Departments, who pay for the cost of those services. Staffing levels are, therefore, largely determined by client demand. There will be reductions in back office staff but it is anticipated that they will be redeployed on client work.

PRIME MINISTER

National Security Council: Manpower

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Prime Minister what the  (a) civilian and  (b) military staff establishment is of the secretariat of the National Security Council.

David Cameron: My National Security Adviser (Sir Peter Ricketts) is the Secretary to the National Security Council. The secretariat to the National Security Council consists of two civilian staff posts.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Children: Maintenance

Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of child maintenance cases with an assessment and payment schedule were fully compliant in the 12 months to the end of March 2010; and what proportion of such cases  (a) resulted in payments of (i) 50 per cent. or more and (ii) less than 50 per cent. of the child maintenance due and  (b) were wholly non-compliant.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of child maintenance cases with an assessment and payment schedule were fully compliant in the 12 months to the end of March 2010; and what proportion of such cases (a) resulted in payments of (i) 50 per cent. or more and (ii) less than 50 per cent. of the child maintenance due and (b) were wholly non-compliant.
	In the 12 months to March 2010, 769,200 cases paid maintenance out of 944,300 cases that had a liability and or payment schedule at some point across the same period. 327,500 cases (35%) were fully compliant for the 12 month period, this includes cases which were only liable for maintenance for part of the year but were fully compliant for that period. 80,400 cases (9%) were wholly non-compliant for the 12 month period.
	Robust management information figures are not available to answer what proportion of cases paid more, or less than 50 per cent. of the child maintenance due.

Children: Maintenance

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many parents resident in Dartford constituency have used the Child Support Agency or the Child Maintenance Enforcement Commission to ensure child maintenance payments are enforced in each of the last five years.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 8 March 2011:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many parents resident in Dartford constituency have used the Child Support Agency or the Child Maintenance Enforcement Commission to ensure child maintenance payments are enforced in each of the last five years.
	The number of cases currently being handled by the Child Support Agency, where the parent with care lives in Dartford parliamentary constituency, are shown in the table below. Figures include all live cases and also cases without a current assessment but where arrears are still owed from a previous assessment. The figures also include those cases which are managed off the main computer system from December 2008.
	
		
			  Quarter ending as at December each year  Cases 
			 2006 1,850 
			 2007 1,930 
			 2008 2,010 
			 2009 1,890 
			 2010 1,780 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Figures based on cases where the parent with care lives in Dartford constituency. 3. Figures reflect the performance of cases administered off system from December 2008. 4. It should be noted that the parliamentary constituency of Dartford had its boundary redrawn at the time of the 2010 general election. The caseload figure as at December 2010 is therefore not comparable with the figures prior to this date. 
		
	
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Crisis Loans

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what  (a) impact assessment and  (b) consultation his Department has undertaken on its decision on the future (i) level and (ii) availability of social fund crisis loans.

Steve Webb: The current system of crisis loans is poorly targeted and open to abuse; for example, some 17,000 people received 10 or more crisis loans in the last 12 months. As outlined in my written ministerial statement of 3 March 2010,  Official Report, columns 45-46WS, we have had to take urgent action to bring spending on crisis loans back under control and ensure we can continue to meet genuine need.
	An equality impact assessment of these changes has been published on the DWP website including details of consultation undertaken:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/impact-assessments/equality-impact-assessments/

Disability

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what steps he plans to take to ensure that assessors for the personal independence payment are trained in all aspects of disability;
	(2)  what steps he plans to take to ensure that the assessment process for the personal independence payment takes account of the role of the advocate for people who have difficulties in communicating and undertaking questions, such as those with autism;
	(3)  what steps he plans to take to ensure that a person with autism who undergoes an assessment for the personal independence payment will have person-centred support when attending an assessment;
	(4)  what steps he plans to take to ensure that all personal independence payment assessors will have the multi-disciplinary knowledge required to assess the needs of people with autism;
	(5)  what consideration his Department is giving to the needs of people with autism in developing the assessment procedures for the personal independence payment;
	(6)  which experts involved in the working group developing the assessment process for the personal independence payment have a specialism in the potential problems faced by individuals in communication and planning a journey, as set out in the consultant document;
	(7)  whether any specialists on autism are involved in the group developing the assessment process for the personal independence payment.

Maria Miller: The assessment for personal independence payment is being designed in collaboration with an independent group of specialists in health, social care and disability. Its membership encompasses a wide variety of relevant expertise and reflects a broad range of experience in the needs of disabled people. As well as representatives from RADAR and Equality 2025, the group includes individuals from professions such as occupational therapy, psychiatry, physiotherapy, social work, general practice and community psychiatric nursing. This approach ensures that the initial development work is being undertaken within a holistic view of the impact of disability.
	The assessment development group is currently undertaking the early design work on the assessment criteria. Both I and departmental officials have met with the National Autistic Society to discuss our reform proposals and to seek their views on how the new benefit can best support those with autism. Once the broad principles are in place, we will work with the assessment group and disabled people and their organisations on the refinement and testing of the detail of the criteria. We know it is essential that the assessment accurately captures the needs of disabled people with autistic spectrum disorders and this is something that the development group is already considering. We agree with many of the points raised in the National Autistic Society's recent report on DLA reform, "Who benefits?", and we are looking closely at how these recommendations can be incorporated into its design.
	We are still considering the delivery model for the personal independence payment assessment and no decisions have yet been taken. We recognise the importance of providing adequate training and guidance for assessors and of ensuring that the assessment process is appropriate to individual's circumstances, including individuals with autistic spectrum disorders. To ensure that we get this reform right, we will continue to work with disabled people and their organisations as the detail of the assessment criteria and its operation is developed and tested.

Disability Living Allowance

Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on the provision of mobility allowance for  (a) those in hospital,  (b) those moved to a residential home and  (c) students; and what account he has taken of the degrees of mobility and levels of requirement in each situation in formulating his policy.

Maria Miller: As was announced at publication of the Welfare Reform Bill on 17 February, the Government's intention is to bring in any change to the mobility component as part of the wider reform of disability living allowance (DLA). Consultation on wider reform of DLA with the key proposal of a new benefit to be known as personal independence payment concluded on 18 February. The intention is that all working age recipients of disability living allowance will be reassessed under the conditions of entitlement to personal independence payment from 2013 to establish whether they have entitlement to that payment.
	Levels of payment will focus on those who have faced the most challenges in living independent lives. We will consider other directly relevant state funded support which is being made to ensure fairness.

Disability Living Allowance: Airdrie

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of the working age population of Airdrie and Shotts constituency is in receipt of disability living allowance.

Maria Miller: The information is in the following table:
	
		
			  Number and proportion of DLA recipients of working age in Airdrie and Shotts constituency 
			   As at May 2010 
			 Number 4,010 
			 Proportion (%) 7.6 
			  Notes: 1. Number of recipients is rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Proportions are to the nearest decimal place. 3. Figures do not include people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. 4. Constituencies used are for the Westminster Parliament of May 2010. 5. Working age restricts the analysis to males aged 16 to 64 and females aged 16 to 59. 6. Data is published at: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/Default.asp 7. Population estimates are published at: http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/files2/stats/population-estimates/wpc-pop-est-2001-2009.xls  Source: DWP Information Directorate 100%WPLS

Disability Living Allowance: Children

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children with disabilities educated in special schools are in receipt of the mobility component of disability living allowance at the  (a) lower and  (b) higher rate.

Maria Miller: The information requested is not available as the number of non residential pupils in special schools is not recorded. This is because it is residence rather than type of school that affects payment of disability living allowance.
	There are 2,000 children in residential care (which includes children in residential special schools) of which 1,200 are in receipt of the lower rate mobility component and 800 are in receipt of the higher rate component.

Disability Living Allowance: Wolverhampton

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Wolverhampton North East constituency receive the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance.

Maria Miller: The information is contained in the following table:
	
		
			  Disability living allowance recipients with higher rate mobility component May 2010 
			   Number 
			 Wolverhampton North East parliamentary constituency 3,250 
			  Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest ten. 2. Data is for the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and excludes people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. 3. Constituencies used are for the Westminster Parliament of May 2010. 4. These figures are published at: http://83.244.183.180/100pc/tabtool.html  Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, 100% WPLS

Employment and Support Allowance

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will bring forward proposals to change employment and support allowance to take greater account of the need for support relating to health treatment.

Maria Miller: Anyone claiming ESA will undergo the work capability assessment (WCA). The WCA is based on the premise that eligibility should be based on the way a condition limits functional capability.
	Where an individual is undergoing treatment for a health condition or disability, the WCA will take full account of the effects that the treatment has on the individual's functional capability as part of the assessment of eligibility for ESA.

Employment and Support Allowance: Airdrie

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Airdrie and Shotts constituency have been in receipt of employment and support allowance payments for more than one year.

Maria Miller: The information requested is given as follows:
	
		
			  Employment and support allowance in Airdrie and Shotts parliamentary constituency May 2010 
			   Number 
			 Total claimants 210 
			 Duration of over one year 1,250 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Employment and support allowance (ESA) replaced incapacity benefit and income support paid on the grounds of incapacity for new claims from 27 October 2008. 3. This data was extracted from the Department's Tabulation tool at: http://83.244.183.180/5pc/tabtool.html 4. Data includes those receiving "credits only".  Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, 100% WPLS

Incapacity Benefits

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the  (a) minimum and  (b) maximum period will be between an individual receiving notification of their incapacity benefit reassessment and the date of their initial reassessment.

Chris Grayling: The length of time it will take for a customer to have their incapacity benefits reassessed is dependent upon a range of factors. Among other things, this includes the speed with which the customer returns their medical questionnaire and whether the customer needs to attend a face to face assessment. On average this would normally take around 13 weeks but this may be quicker if a face to face assessment is not required.

Incapacity Benefits

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what procedures are in place for incapacity benefit clients who wish to make a complaint about their reassessment.

Chris Grayling: Jobcentre Plus work in partnership with Atos Healthcare the Department's medical services provider, to delivery of the Incapacity Benefit Reassessment Programme.
	A customer can raise a complaint about their reassessment through Jobcentre Plus or, where it refers to their medical examination, direct with Atos Healthcare, where the customer's complaint is investigated by Atos under their complaints process. If the customer is still dissatisfied with the outcome, having exhausted the Atos complaints process, they may escalate their complaint to the Jobcentre Plus Chief Executive, who will undertake a further investigation. If the customer is not satisfied with the outcome, they can approach the Independent Case Examiner if their complaint concerns departmental maladministration.
	If the complaint refers to action taken by Jobcentre Plus, Jobcentre Plus' own complaint process applies, which culminates in a response from the Chief Executive. If the customer remains dissatisfied, they may also escalate their complaint to the Independent Case Examiner.

Industrial Health and Safety: Prosecutions

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will assess the effect on the number of prosecutions for health and safety offences of reductions in the budget of the Health and Safety Executive.

Chris Grayling: I do not expect there to be any significant effect on the number of prosecutions for health and safety offences because of reductions in the budget of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Almost all of the prosecutions for health and safety offences arise from the investigation of accidents, incidents and complaints. HSE has no plans to reduce the resources available for such investigations.

International Labour Organisation

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much funding his Department provided to the International Labour Organisation in each of the last four years; and how much funding he expects to provide in  (a) 2011-12,  (b) 2012-13,  (c) 2013-14 and  (d) 2014-15.

Chris Grayling: Figures for past years are in the following table (rounded to the nearest thousand).
	
		
			  Department for Work and Pensions funding to the International Labour Organisation, 2007-10 
			  Calendar year  Assessed contributions to the ILO regular b udget  (£ million)  Payments to the UN/ILO/World Bank Youth Employment Network (£) 
			 2007 9.359 50,000 
			 2008 13.295 100,000 
			 2009 15.481 - 
			 2010 16.218 - 
		
	
	The UK's assessed contribution for calendar year 2011 is around £16.5 million. The final figure my Department will pay in sterling depends on currency exchange rates as the contribution is paid in Swiss francs.
	The UK's subscription for future years has not yet been determined and will depend on a number of variables including the ILO's biennial budget proposal, any return of ILO budget surpluses and refunds under the ILO's early payment scheme, and currency exchange rates.

Jobcentre Plus: Incapacity Benefits

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what order of precedence Jobcentre Plus has set for rolling out its incapacity benefits reassessment programme.

Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Darra Singh:
	The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has asked me to reply to your question asking what order of precedence Jobcentre Plus has set for rolling out its Incapacity Benefits reassessment programme. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Customers receiving Incapacity Benefit and Income Support paid on the grounds of illness or disability, currently attend Personal Capability Assessments (PCA) to determine and review their entitlement for benefit. The order in which customers will be selected for IB(IS)reassessment will be based upon the date on which they would otherwise have been called for their next PCA. Customers currently claiming Severe Disablement Allowance will be reassessed at the end of the reassessment process.

Jobcentre Plus: Incapacity Benefits

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether additional  (a) staffing and  (b) resources will be provided to Jobcentre Plus to undertake incapacity benefit reassessments in areas where a backlog of appeals exists.

Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Darra Singh:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about whether additional (a) staffing and (b) resources will be provided to Jobcentre Plus to undertake Incapacity Benefit reassessments in areas where a backlog of appeals exists. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	In total around 1100 Jobcentre Plus staff will be allocated to Incapacity Benefit reassessment. These staff will be split across the Jobcentres, Contact Centres and Benefit Centres to deliver the end to end reassessment process. Of these staff, 150 will be allocated to appeals work, namely the preparation and referral of appeals to the Tribunal Service.
	These staffing and resource allocations are in line with anticipated numbers of appeals arising from the reassessment of Incapacity Benefit.
	Resources will be made available separately for the Tribunal Service to process Incapacity Benefit reassessment appeals.

Jobseeker's Allowance: Cancer

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cancer patients were found  (a) still to have limited capability for work-related activity and retained in the support group,  (b) to have limited capability for work and placed in the work-related activity group and  (c) to be fit for work and placed on jobseeker's allowance following reassessment in each of the last four years.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Assessment quarter  Support  g roup  Work  related activity group  Fit  for work 
			  2008
			 November 40 0 0 
			 
			  2009
			 February 880 140 70 
			 May 1,770 350 360 
			 August 2,390 520 700 
			 November 2,690 580 670 
			 
			  2010
			 February 2,520 590 600 
			 May 2,660 640 590 
			 August 2,870 740 710 
			 Total 15,830 3,570 3,690 
		
	
	This represents the DWP decision at initial assessment by the quarter in which the assessment was completed up to the end of August 2010. Repeat assessments and clerical assessments where the result cannot be determined from DWP benefits data are excluded from these figures.
	The numbers are rounded to the nearest 10.
	The cases have been selected where the primary condition of the person claiming is cancer. For most claimants this information is predominantly taken from the information recorded on the medical certificate provided by the GP when someone first makes a claim for employment and support allowance (ESA). It is based on the primary condition of the person claiming and represents what their GP considers to be the main reason the person cannot work at that time.
	In 2010, this information was transferred to central administrative databases for all claims still live in November 2009 and new claims thereafter. For some claims that closed before November 2009 we have used other sources to determine medical condition such as that recorded at the WCA or that recorded by Jobcentre Plus at first contact. However, in some cases the information is missing, particularly for ESA claims that closed before November 2009.
	The information presented is consistent with the information in Table 2 in the report 'Employment and Support Allowance: Work Capability Assessment by Health Condition and Functional Impairment: Official Statistics: January 2011', a copy of which can be found at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/esa_wca/esa_wca_25012011.pdf

Motability

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has for the future of the Motability scheme following introduction of the personal independence payment.

Maria Miller: While this Department works closely with Motability and facilitates the operation of the scheme, Motability it is an independent charity and DWP Ministers are not directly involved in determining scheme policy.
	As stated in the recent consultation document on Disability Living Allowance Reform, we will work with Motability under the reformed system of personal independence payment.

Personal Independence Payment

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reason he has proposed that six months must elapse before a person can claim the personal independence payment; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Miller: holding answer 14 March 2011
	We propose that in order to qualify for personal independence payment, the individual must have met the conditions of entitlement to a specific rate of the daily living or mobility component during the six months preceding the date they become entitled. This is intended to distinguish between a long-term impairment or health condition-for which financial support through this benefit may be appropriate-and shorter term conditions where other support mechanisms exist.
	The first six months of a disability may well attract additional costs but those may be met through other mechanisms such as healthcare travel costs, free prescriptions or aids and adaptations provided by the NHS or the local authority. Individuals may also be entitled to a range of social security benefits depending on their circumstances during this period.

Remploy

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many public procurement contracts with each  (a) Government department and  (b) local authority have been awarded to Remploy since 2008; and what the monetary value was of such contracts.

Maria Miller: Remploy Enterprise Businesses and Employment Services have a large number of contracts with a wide range of public bodies. The following tables provide details of contracts awarded to Remploy's Enterprise Businesses and Employment Services since April 2008, either held directly with Government Departments (including bodies that they sponsor including non-departmental public bodies) and local authorities and also contracts held with third parties on behalf of public bodies.
	
		
			  1.  Remploy Enterprise Businesses 
			  (a) Contracts with Government Departments 
			  Government Department  Number of contracts  Total value of contracts  April 2008 to  March 2011 (£000) 
			 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills 1 252 
			 Department for Culture Media and Sport 1 18 
			 Department for Education 1 43,535 
			 Department for Work and Pensions 2 6,669 
			 Department of Health (201 orders with hospitals and health authorities) 1 6,100 
			 Department of Transport 1 10 
			 Foreign Office 1 150 
			 HM Treasury 1 29 
			 Home Office (69 orders with police forces and authorities) 1 20,227 
			 Ministry of Defence 1 5,982 
			 Ministry of Justice 1 989 
			 Scottish Government 1 23 
			 Welsh Government 1 110 
			 Total 14 84,094 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) Contracts with local authorities 
			  Local council  Number of contracts  Total value of contracts April 2008 to March 2011 (£000) 
			 Angell Town, Hertfordshire and Loughborough CCTV 1 337 
			 Clydebank CCTV 1 366 
			 Cotswold District Council 1 33 
			 Corby Borough Council 1 365 
			 East Staffordshire Borough Council 1 455 
			 Eastleigh Borough Council 1 476 
			 Great Yarmouth Borough Council 1 274 
			 Industrial Estate Partnership Business Improvement District (including Bolton MBC) 1 483 
			 Kirklees Council 1 18 
			 Newark and Sherwood District Council 1 396 
			 South Staffordshire District Council 1 263 
			 Total 11 3,466 
		
	
	
		
			  2. Remploy Employment Services 
			  (a) Government departments 
			  Government Department  Number of contracts  Total value of contracts April 2008 to March 2011 (£000) 
			 Department for Work and Pensions 4 20,285 
			 ESEP Ltd. on behalf of Scottish Government 2 863 
			 Government Office for the North West 1 34 
			 Learning and Skills Council 14 842 
			 Ministry of Justice-Yorkshire and Humberside 1 376 
			 National Offender Management Service Leicestershire Rutland Probation Trust 1 8 
			 Skills Funding Agency 1 560 
			 Welsh European Funding Office 3 24,410 
			 Total 27 47,378 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) Local authorities 
			  Local council  Number of contracts  Total value of contracts April 2008 to March 2011 (£000) 
			 Barking and Dagenham Council 2 59 
			 Birmingham City Council 2 91 
			 Coventry City Council 2 264 
			 Cumbria County Council 2 49 
			 Derby Council 1 79 
			 Dorset County Council 1 13 
			 East Durham Council 1 45 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire Council 1 179 
			 Five Host Boroughs-London 1 31 
			 Huddersfield Council 1 270 
			 Leicester City Council 2 113 
			 Liverpool City Council 5 220 
			 London Borough of Hounslow Council 1 23 
			 London Borough of Tower Hamlets Council 1 3 
			 London Councils 1 3 
			 Manchester City Council 1 1 
			 Newcastle City Council 1 42 
			 North Lanarkshire Council 1 231 
			 Renfrewshire Council 2 69 
			 Salford Council 1 426 
			 Sheffield City Council 4 431 
			 South Lanarkshire Council 1 555 
			 Stoke on Trent City Council 1 2 
			 Sunderland City Council 1 93 
			 Wirral Council 2 688 
			 Total 39 3,980 
			  Notes: 1. All tables cover the period April 2008 to March 2011. The contract value represents the sales value derived within the period covered (with estimates for the last two months of this financial year) and not the full total contract value.  2. The tables include the public body that contract is now held with if the public body has changed through machinery of Government changes.  3. The tables include public bodies that no longer exist if the contract has been completed, for example, Learning and Skills Council.

Remploy

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many contracts Remploy have been awarded since 2008; what the monetary value of such contracts was; and what proportion of those contracts was subsequently passed to private companies.

Maria Miller: The information requested is provided in the following table. Remploy Enterprise Businesses and Employment Services have a large number of contracts with a wide range of organisations which support delivery of increasing the number of disabled people into work.
	
		
			  Remploy area of business  Number of contracts  Total value of contracts April 2008 to March 2011 (£000)  Proportion sub-contracted to third parties (percentage) 
			 Employment Services 82 55,127 33 
			 Enterprise Businesses 127 348,892 2 
			  Note: The total contract value represents the sales value derived within the period covered (with estimates for the last two months of this financial year) and not the full total contract value.

Remploy: Pay

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will assess the merits of awarding a pay increase to employees of Remploy.

Maria Miller: Remploy, as a non-departmental public body must live within the HM Treasury guidance on pay that is issued annually. Contractual arrangements between Remploy and individual staff, including the level of staff remuneration, are a matter for the company to decide.
	This Government believe all Departments, including non-departmental public bodies, have to show pay restraint in the current economic climate. The approach to pay and bonuses for the current and previous years was negotiated by the previous Administration.
	The 2010-11 pay remit will be agreed shortly. We have recently agreed that the company can discuss a pay increase of £250 for staff earning less than £21,000 with Trade Union representatives. This is in line with the current Treasury guidelines and payments are expected to be made shortly.
	The Treasury guidance for 2011-12 has recently been issued to Departments. We are working with Remploy to ensure that appropriate pay restraint is applied in 2011-12 and for future years.

Social Security Benefits

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to encourage the take-up of benefits that are unclaimed by pensioners.

Steve Webb: We want to ensure that older people receive the help they are entitled to. The Pension, Disability and Carers Service (PDCS) works closely with local organisations to encourage and support people to take up the benefits they are entitled to.
	They also target activity on engaging with people who may be eligible to encourage them to claim. For example, when a customer makes a claim to state pension or reports a change in their circumstances, a customer adviser will discuss a pension credit application with those who may be entitled.
	In addition, we have developed a free pension credit 'toolkit' providing information guides and templates for people who work with vulnerable pensioners to encourage them to promote pension credit.
	We are conducting a modest research study to help build the evidence base on how the information that we routinely collect can be used more effectively to ensure pensioners get the help that is available through pension credit. This study is a first step in seeing if this type of approach might be possible in the longer term.

Social Security Benefits

Yvette Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) women and  (b) men were in receipt of (i) disability living allowance, (ii) income support and (iii) jobseeker's allowance on the most recent date for which figures are available.

Maria Miller: The information is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Total DLA and IS claimants, May 2010 
			  Benefit  Total  Female  Male 
			 DLA 3,157,310 1,576,530 1,580,780 
			 IS 1,852,270 1,214,600 637,670 
			  Notes: 1. DLA and IS case load figures are rounded to the nearest 10, JSA case loads are rounded to the nearest 100. 2. DLA totals show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and excludes people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example, if they are in hospital. 3. DLA and IS figures are published at: http://83.244.183.180/100pc/tabtool.html 4. JSA figures are published at: http://www.nomisweb.co.uk  Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, 100% WPLS. 
		
	
	
		
			  Total JSA claimants, January 2011 
			  Benefit  Total  Female  Male 
			 JSA 1,400,600 433,800 966,800 
			  Notes: 1. DLA and IS case load figures are rounded to the nearest 10, JSA case loads are rounded to the nearest 100. 2. DLA totals show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and excludes people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example, if they are in hospital. 3. DLA and IS figures are published at: http://83.244.183.180/100pc/tabtool.html 4. JSA figures are published at: http://www.nomisweb.co.uk  Source: Seasonally adjusted count of unemployment-related benefits, Jobcentre Plus computer systems.

Social Security Benefits: Autism

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department takes to ensure that officials assessing entitlement to benefits are appropriately trained in  (a) understanding and  (b) communicating with people with autism.

Maria Miller: The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) policy is to develop its staff who have a wide variety of different roles in the skills required to support a range of customers and to respect their individual needs, including those related to their health conditions. This approach ensures that they are equipped to deal with a diverse set of circumstances whilst treating customers as individuals. For this reason, there is no single set of procedures to be followed which solely focus on understanding and communicating with people with autism.
	The learning programme for Jobcentre Plus focuses on raising awareness of the customer's personal circumstances and also recognises that disabilities and health conditions can affect individuals in different ways and will change over time. Guidance is also available for Jobcentre Plus staff which includes background information on a number of conditions relating to hidden impairments such as: autistic spectrum conditions including asperger's syndrome; attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; dyslexia and speech and language difficulties.
	Furthermore, Jobcentre Plus run a seminar to support staff better understand the implications of current disability/diversity legislation in relation to their job roles when working with disabled customers, colleagues and employers. The 'Raising the Game on Disability' seminar aims to dispel the many myths and misconceptions around the disability agenda in a safe and supportive environment as staff are encouraged to ask questions and share their personal experiences of disability. Part of the seminar includes a discussion about communication, language and etiquette including working with customers with mental ill health, autistic spectrum conditions and learning disabilities.
	Jobcentre Plus has also put in place a mental health co-ordinator in each district. Their role is to: improve and facilitate links between local mental health and employment services; identify the availability of local support that advisers may signpost customers to; provide a support role to advisers who are working with customers with mental health conditions, or learning difficulties; and influence local partners to consider whether the help currently available for those with mental health conditions or learning difficulties satisfies local needs and encourage them to address any gaps or shortfall in provision.
	Pension, Disability and Carers Service (PDCS) have specific learning provided by the Professionalism in Decision Making and Appeals (PIDMA) body. The course is Understanding Working Age and Child Customers which has a section on understanding the impact of a learning disability specifically covering autistic spectrum disorders. This course is for all appropriate disability living allowance and attendance allowance decision-making staff.
	The above learning is being modified and updated to reflect the newly widened responsibilities of the Local Service Customer Liaison Managers (CLMs) to deal with visits, where required, to all of the Department's "vulnerable client groups". The new course is intended to build on that by providing learning more specifically tailored to visiting officers and as part of whole suite on new learning products for local service to be delivered from late autumn 2011 onwards.
	Since February 2010, DWP formed a National Hidden Impairment strategy group involving medical professionals and experts in the fields of hidden impairments; disability specific organisations such as the National Autistic Society; Autism Plus and Addept; and involving service users with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) conditions. The purpose of the group is to improve the customer service experience for individuals with these conditions. The group is currently producing a further series of guidance in the form of checklists to ensure that staff feel confident in their ability to anticipate appropriate reasonable adjustment solutions at relevant stages of the customer journey. These checklists have been written by medical experts and will be available by the end of March 2011.

Social Security Benefits: Autism

John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what steps the Government plans to take to consider the needs of people with autism when designing the assessment procedure for the proposed personal independence payment;
	(2)  if he will ensure that all personal independence payment assessors have the requisite multi-disciplinary knowledge to assess the needs of people with autism.

Maria Miller: The assessment is being developed in collaboration with an independent group of specialists in health, social care and disability, including disabled people. This group is currently undertaking the early design work on the assessment criteria. Once the broad principles are in place, we will work with the assessment group and disabled people and their organisations on the refinement and testing of the detail of the criteria. We know it is essential that it accurately captures the needs of disabled people with autistic spectrum disorders and this is something that the development group is considering.
	We are still considering the most appropriate delivery model for the personal independence payment assessment and no decisions have yet been taken. We recognise the importance of providing adequate training and guidance for assessors and of ensuring that the assessment process is appropriate to individual's circumstances, including individuals with autistic spectrum disorders. Both I and departmental officials have met with the National Autistic Society to discuss our reform proposals and to seek their views on how the new benefit can best support those with autism. We agree with many of the points raised in the National Autistic Society's recent report on DLA reform "Who benefits?" and we are looking closely at how these recommendations can be incorporated into its design. We are keen to continue to work with disabled people and their organisations as the detail of the assessment criteria and its operation is developed and tested.

Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether any bonuses were paid to private companies engaged as part of the operation of the trial of the reassessments for customers receiving incapacity benefit and income support in north east Scotland.

Maria Miller: No bonuses have been paid to any private companies involved in the trial nor are there any plans to do so. Atos Healthcare, who were awarded the Department's medical services contract under the previous Administration, will continue to be funded under the existing contractual agreement to deliver the medical services in the trial areas.

Social Security Benefits: Older People

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to simplify the benefits claims process for pensioners.

Steve Webb: The claims process has already been simplified and pensioners can claim housing benefit and council tax benefit, alongside pension credit, in a single phone call without the need for a signed claim form. Calls to the 0800 claims number from a BT landline or from the six largest mobile phone networks are free.
	Work is ongoing to improve the state pension "Invitation to Claim" pack. This includes introducing a better structure to make it easier to use, simplifying the content and adding a tier of signposting to Directgov, pension leaflets and relevant partner organisations to help customers find any further information they may need. An interim solution was delivered in November 2010 and further changes are planned from August 2011.
	In addition, a number of significant improvements are planned for pension credit new claim, changes and annual uprating letters. These are currently under development and are expected to be in use by May 2011.
	Further changes are also being made to the information on Directgov with good results to date. Customer satisfaction is up by over 10 percentage points since the project started.
	State pension online provides customers living in the UK, who wish to use the internet, with a swift and convenient way of claiming their state pension via Directgov. Where possible the service will present them with their state pension award details in real time. This service is available 24 hours a day. Customers who do not wish to complete their claim in one go are able to save their claim and return to complete it later.
	Additionally, later this year, the majority of Jobcentre Plus customers who are eligible for the state pension will automatically transfer from working age benefits to their state pension without the need for a claim. This service will reuse information already held about them by DWP and will provide a much more effective customer service to approximately 200,000 people every year.

Social Security Benefits: Public Expenditure

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his most recent estimate is of the likely savings to the public purse of the proposed cap on the annual level of benefits payments per household over the comprehensive spending review period.

Chris Grayling: The spending review 2010 announced that household benefit payments would be capped from 2013 at around £500 per week for couple and lone parent households and around £350 per week for single adult households. War widows, households which include a member who is receiving disability living allowance or constant attendance allowance, and working households claiming the working tax credit will be exempt from the cap.
	If the benefit cap were applied in full, as described in the supporting documentation for the spending review 2010 the savings to the Exchequer are estimated to be £225 million in 2013-14 and £270 million in 2014-15.
	We are looking at ways of easing the transition for families and providing assistance in hard cases.

State Retirement Pensions

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what methodology his Department uses to determine the level of contracted-out deductions from the state second pension;
	(2)  for what reason the level of contracted-out deductions from the State Second Pension of people whose occupational pension has not increased is increased annually.

Steve Webb: The additional state pension payable to a person contracted out of the state earnings-related pension scheme (SERPS) through a defined benefit (or salary-related) occupational pension scheme between 1978 and 1997 is reduced by a contracted-out deduction (COD) equal to the level of the guaranteed minimum pension (GMP), payable by the scheme at 60 for women and 65 for men (subject to the total deduction not being greater than the individual's notional additional state pension accrued between 1978 and 1997).
	Each GMP is calculated in a broadly similar way to the additional state pension but based on earnings on which contracted-out national insurance contributions were paid.
	A person who contracted out of SERPS under a defined contribution (or money purchase) arrangement from 1988 onwards does not accrue a GMP as scheme benefits are dependent on investment returns and annuity rates. The additional state pension paid to such a person is reduced by an amount equivalent to the GMP that would have accrued had he or she been contracted out through a defined benefit scheme, although the actual pension paid may be higher or lower than the contracted-out deduction. However, calculating the COD in this way ensures that people are treated in the same way, regardless of how they were contracted out.
	GMPs, and therefore contracted-out deductions, accrued from 1988 onwards receive limited price indexation and so increase in most years. However, pensions or annuities bought from defined contribution contracted-out schemes since April 2006 do not have to provide for any indexation. Individuals can choose to buy a flat-rate annuity which will have a higher starting payment than an escalating annuity but not increase over time. This means that in these cases it would be possible for the COD to increase while the occupational pension remains the same.

State Retirement Pensions: Livingston

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many women in Livingston constituency will be affected by his proposals to raise the state pension age for women.

Steve Webb: This information is not available.
	On the basis of the mid-2009 GRO for Scotland population estimates, we estimate that around eight thousand and two hundred women in the West Lothian local authority area could be affected by the proposals to rise the state pension age.

Work Programme Contracts

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what date he expects to announce the successful work programme bidders for each contract package area.

Chris Grayling: This has been a very successful competition and we have received 177 bids.
	The announcement of 'preferred bidders' will take place in the first part of April 2011: both successful and unsuccessful bidders will be notified and results will be posted on DWP website. In addition, results will also be made available on 'The Contracts Finder' website which builds on the Department's commitment to transparency.

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMISSION

Environmental Audit Select Committee

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission how much National Audit Office resource was made available to support the work of the Environmental Audit Committee in the latest period for which figures are available.

Andrew Tyrie: In the 2009-10 financial year, the full cost to the National Audit Office of supporting the work of the Environmental Audit Committee was £283,000.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Anti-Semitism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will undertake a survey to ascertain the prevalence of anti-Semitism in each  (a) age group,  (b) socio-economic group and  (c) region; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Stunell: We have no plans to undertake a survey to ascertain the prevalence of anti-Semitism, as we believe this is not necessarily the best way to measure anti-Semitism. We do record anti-Semitic crime at the national level which is broken down by police force area. These figures were published in November 2010. Full details can be found at:
	http://www.acpo.police.uk/asp/policies/Data/084a_Recorded_Hate_Crime_-_January_to_December_2009.pdf

Community Development

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to initiate consultation on the introduction of regulations contemplated under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007.

Greg Clark: The Government will shortly publish a consultation seeking views on the contents of new regulations to be made under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007, and will make a statement in due course.

Community Relations: English Language

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to promote the use of the English language in the UK for the purposes of community cohesion; and how much funding he allocated to this objective in the latest period for which figures are available.

Andrew Stunell: holding answer 14 March 2011
	 The Government recognise the role of good English language skills in enabling speakers of other languages to contribute to the economy and play a full part in society.
	On 29 November the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), introduced a new language requirement for those seeking entry to the UK as either a spouse or civil partner, fiancé or proposed civil partner, unmarried partner or same sex partner of a British citizen or someone who is present and settled in the UK. Pre entry language requirements are also in place for migrants seeking visas for work or study purposes via the points based system. Migrants applying for settlement or citizenship are required to demonstrate knowledge of English language and life in the UK.
	In 2008-09-the most recent data available-£225 million was spent by further education institutions on English as a Second Language (ESOL). From August 2011, full Government funding will be provided for ESOL to unemployed people in receipt of jobseeker's allowance or in the employment and support allowance (Work-Related Activity) Group, where English language skills have been identified as a barrier to entering employment. We will also continue to pay 50% of ESOL course fees for people who are settled here. We will no longer fund ESOL courses delivered in the workplace.
	The Government recently announced that over £7 million in match funding is available through the European refugee fund 2010 and European integration fund 2010. Projects for teaching English language are eligible for both funds.
	In schools, newly arrived pupils are usually given additional help in learning English by specialist teachers or by bilingual classroom assistants. Since 1999, the Department for Education has made available an Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant (EMAG) to help narrow achievement gaps for black and minority ethnic pupils and cover some of the costs of additional support needed for bilingual learners. In 2010-11 just under £207 million was paid to local authorities through the EMAG.

Jewish Community

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what information his Department holds on the number of  (a) synagogues and  (b) Jewish cemeteries in each local authority area that have been desecrated in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Jewish community on this issue; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Stunell: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not hold any information as to the number of synagogues and Jewish cemeteries desecrated in each local authority. However, data are available in the three police force areas which have the largest Jewish communities. These data would classify the desecration of Jewish cemeteries and synagogues as criminal damage. Whenever a critical incident occurs related to either desecration of Jewish cemeteries or synagogues, the National Community Tension Team ensures that they link in with the Community Security Trust to reassure the Jewish community and ensure that each incident is investigated.

Private Rented Housing

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what powers local authorities have in relation to the management of private rented housing; and what information his Department holds on the use of such powers.

Andrew Stunell: Local authorities have extensive powers under the Housing Act 2004 to help improve the management of privately rented properties. They are under a statutory duty to licence certain high risk privately rented houses in multiple occupation. They also have discretionary powers to extend licensing to other types of privately rented property.
	Local authorities also have powers to assess the risks and hazards in privately rented properties using the housing health and safety rating system. If a property is found to contain serious hazards, the local authority has a duty to take the most appropriate action. This system provides an important safety net, ensuring that homes are safe.
	The Department does not hold information on the use of these powers centrally.

Town Centres

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent steps he has taken to promote  (a) the regeneration of town centres and  (b) high street shops; and if he will make a statement.

Greg Clark: holding answer 14 March 2011
	The Government are fully committed to supporting town centres. Town centres are at the heart of our communities and neighbourhoods and have an important role to play in the growth of local economies. Through our new approach to planning and regeneration we will provide residents and local authorities with local rewards and incentives to enable them to drive regeneration and growth that is right for their needs.
	We are giving new powers and rights for local councils and communities to determine and influence what happens in their area, for example, through neighbourhood planning, local enterprise partnerships, the power of competence and community right to buy. We are increasing local control of public finance by de-ring fencing and enabling local pooling of budgets. We are offering powerful incentives for housing and business growth, through the new homes bonus and changes to the community infrastructure levy and we are considering options to enable councils to retain locally-raised business rates and to grant business rate discounts if they wish.
	The "town centre first" policy will continue to be strongly expressed in national planning policy currently under review through the National Planning Policy Framework. The Government's firm intention in reviewing the policy is to make it more accessible and clearer. We will publish, and present to Parliament, the National Planning Policy Framework by April 2012.

TREASURY

Aggregates Levy: Northern Ireland

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sites subject to the aggregates levy are registered in Northern Ireland.

Justine Greening: Of approximately 680 registrations for the aggregates levy in the UK, around 150 operators are registered as having their principal place of business in Northern Ireland. Some operators registered elsewhere in the UK may also have sites in Northern Ireland.

Aggregates Levy: Northern Ireland

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which sites subject to the aggregates levy in Northern Ireland claimed relief for the extraction of shale material in each of the last four years; what confirmation has been sought from such sites that shale is being extracted; what estimate he has made of the number of false claims made by aggregate companies with respect to shale extraction in the latest period for which figures are available; and what estimate he has made of the volume of shale involved in such false claims.

Justine Greening: In order to minimise the reporting burdens on business, registered persons supplying materials that are exempt under the aggregates levy are not required to identify the nature of the material on returns. Data on which operators have claimed exemption on shale are therefore unavailable.
	Registered operators are subject to risk-based assurance activity, and HMRC act on intelligence received, visiting registered persons and making scientific referrals as appropriate.
	In the past four years the visit programme to quarries in Northern Ireland has resulted in nine scientific referrals of material described as shale, five of which resulted in assessments for additional levy due. The combined volume involved was around 480,000 tons.

Air Force: Military Bases

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what meetings the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has had with  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials of the Ministry of Defence in respect of that Department's RAF basing review.

Danny Alexander: I have regular conversations with the Secretary of State for Defence on a wide range of issues.

Child Tax Credit

Kate Green: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of families  (a) in total,  (b) in each nation and region and  (c) in each constituency who will be affected by the proposed reduction in childcare costs paid through the childcare element of working tax credit.

David Gauke: No estimate has been made.
	The reduction of child care support to 70% from 80% is part of a range of reforms to the tax credits system announced at the spending review. There are interactions between the measures so estimating the impact of just one measure does not give a clear indication of the full impact on households.
	The Government published estimates of the distributional impact of the whole package of announced tax and benefit measures which can be found at:
	http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/sr2010_annexb.pdf

Child Trust Fund: Children in Care

Ann McKechin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent in administration costs to assess for the purposes of the Child Trust Fund the needs of children in care living in Scotland in  (a) 2008-09,  (b) 2009-10 and  (c) 2010-11.

David Gauke: holding answer 14 March 2011
	 We do not hold figures for HMRC's administration costs in respect of looked after children living in Scotland. But HMRC's overall administration costs are published in the annual CTF statistics at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/ctf/stats.htm
	Scottish local authorities and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) incur administration costs in setting up and making payments into CTF accounts for looked after children living in Scotland. Also, where there is no one with parental responsibility for the child, the account is managed by the Accountant of Court in Scotland and their administration costs reimbursed by HMRC. The Accountant of Court was reimbursed (net of VAT) £18,411 for 2008-09 and £18,882 for 2009-10 by HMRC. The figure for 2010-11 is not yet available.
	In addition, local authorities have received funding from central Government of £22 per payment towards the cost of identifying and making payments of £100 to the CTFs of every looked after child.

Departmental Internet

Tessa Jowell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to the public purse was of the Spending Review Challenge.

Danny Alexander: The Government committed to ensuring the spending review process was open, responsible and fair and to engaging the whole public in the difficult decisions that had to be taken. The Spending Challenge was an important part of this, attracting over 100,000 suggestions from public sector workers and members of the public on how Government can do more with less.
	The cost of establishing and operating the Spending Challenge website was £19,300. Related staff and process costs were met using existing resources and from existing budgets.

Fiscal Policy

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what fiscal steps he is taking to incentivise  (a) research and development and  (b) innovation.

David Gauke: The Government incentivise investment in R and D activity through the R and D tax credit schemes. The schemes provided an estimated £980 million of support for innovative UK companies in 2008-09.
	The Government are introducing a reduced tax rate for profits from patents, known as the Patent Box, which will reward successful innovation in patented technology and encourage innovative companies to invest in the UK.

Income Tax: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in  (a) Northern Ireland and  (b) North Down constituency were affected by the introduction of the 50 per cent. rate of income tax in April 2010.

David Gauke: The number of people in Northern Ireland liable to income tax at the 50% additional rate in 2010-11 is published, along with estimates for other UK Government Office Regions, on the HMRC website in table 2.2 which is available at the following address:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_tax/table2-2.pdf
	Estimates are based on the 2007-08 Survey of Personal Incomes, projected using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility's Autumn Forecast 2010.
	Reliable estimates are not available at the parliamentary constituency level, due to small survey sample sizes and significant uncertainties in projections for small geographical areas.

Licensing: Electronic Government

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many premises licence applications have been made through the Business Link website to date; and how many such applications Business Link has forwarded to local authorities.

David Gauke: 267 premises licence applications have been made to date using the application forms on the businesslink.gov.uk website. All such applications have been forwarded to the relevant local authority.

Maternity Payments

Yvette Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many women were in receipt of  (a) Health in Pregnancy Grant and  (b) Sure Start Maternity Grant on the most recent date for which figures are available.

David Gauke: Information on the number of women in receipt of the health in pregnancy grant is only available at disproportionate cost.
	The number of Sure Start maternity grants paid in the financial year 2009-10 in Great Britain was 274,000.
	 Notes:
	1. The number is for all awards, irrespective of whether the award was made to the mother or her partner.
	2. The number has been rounded to the nearest 1,000.
	 Source:
	Annual report by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the Social Fund 2009-10.

National Insurance: Tax Credits

David Ruffley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many temporary national insurance numbers were issued by HM Revenue and Customs in each year since 1997; and what proportion of those numbers were for tax credit purposes.

David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs only issue temporary national insurance numbers for tax credit purposes. These are issued once the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have confirmed that a claimant has passed an evidence of identity test administered by Jobcentre Plus. The present system of tax credits commenced in April 2003 and the numbers issued are detailed in the following table:
	
		
			  Tax year  Number issued 
			 2003-04 16,000 
			 2004-05 6,000 
			 2005-06 23,000 
			 2006-07 20,000 
			 2007-08 17,000 
			 2008-09 17,000 
			 2009-10 13,000

Stamp Duty Land Tax

David Ruffley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many properties sold in  (a) Bury St Edmunds constituency and  (b) Suffolk county council area attracted stamp duty land tax levied at (i) zero per cent., (ii) one per cent., (iii) three per cent. and (iv) four per cent. in each of the last three years.

Justine Greening: Estimates of the number of property transactions for Bury St Edmunds parliamentary constituency and Suffolk county are given in the following table, grouped by stamp duty land tax band.
	
		
			  Property transactions attracting rate based entirely on consideration 
			   0% rate( 1)  1% rate( 2)  3% rate( 3)  4% rate( 4)  Total 
			  Bury St Edmunds  
			 2007-08 890 2,400 780 160 4,220 
			 2008-09 650 1,060 300 80 2,090 
			 2009-10 770 1,500 340 80 2,700 
			   
			  Suffolk  
			 2007-08 5,400 10,400 3,300 880 20,000 
			 2008-09 5,800 3,800 1,600 510 11,700 
			 2009-10 5,000 6,700 1,900 460 14,100 
			 (1) Residential threshold is £125,000 in all years, non-residential threshold is £150,000 in all years. The temporary increase in the residential threshold from £125,000 to £175,000 between September 2008 and December 2009 is ignored. (2) £125,001 to £250,000 for residential transactions, £150,001 to £250,000 for non-residential transactions in all years. (3) £250,001 to £500,000. (4) £500,001+. 
		
	
	Transactions with a value under £40,000, the current stamp duty land tax notification threshold, are excluded from figures for all years.
	The number of transactions bearing stamp duty will be lower than the number shown in the non-zero bands due various applicable reliefs, (e.g. disadvantaged area relief, group relief, registered social landlord relief). There are also some lease transactions which fall in the zero per cent. band on account of consideration, but which bear stamp duty on the lease rental.

Tax Avoidance: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue accrued to the Exchequer from actions against tax avoidance in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

David Gauke: Information on tax revenue in the UK is not collected by reference to its geographical source. Consequently, it is not possible to allocate tax revenue to particular regions of the UK.

Taxation: Banks

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department estimates it will collect in tax revenues from the banking sector in 2010-11; and what proportion of the tax collected from the banking sector it estimates will be non-payroll tax.

Mark Hoban: HMRC would expect large banking groups to pay around £20 billion in 2010-11, of which 80% is from PAYE and NICs and 20% is from corporation tax.

Taxation: Business

Mike Freer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects on business confidence of the decision of HM Revenue and Customs to set out details of how they will undertake a new programme of business record checks prior to the completion of the consultation on such checks.

David Gauke: The programme of business record checks (BRC) will not commence until completion of the formal consultation through the consultation document issued on 19 December 2010. Following that consultation, and taking into account the responses received, HMRC will trial the BRC process using a 'test and learn' approach to ensure that this is supporting businesses by either giving them assurances regarding the standard of their record-keeping, or alternatively advising them on areas of those records where improvements can be made. The test and learn will also be an opportunity to obtain early feedback.

Taxation: Business

Mike Freer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons it is proposed that business record checks will be undertaken by staff of HM Revenue and Customs using powers to enter a person's business premises under Schedule 36 of the Finance Act 2008.

David Gauke: HMRC's random inquiry programme indicates that poor record keeping is a problem in around 40% of all small and medium enterprise cases (circa five million). Research by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development indicates that poor record keeping generally leads to an underassessment of tax even where there is an audit-type check into a return for the period covered by such records. On this basis, poor business record keeping is responsible for a tax loss in up to two million SME cases annually.
	The loss of tax through poor record keeping, particularly in the current economic climate, cannot continue and HMRC is, therefore, determined to use the powers at its disposal to improve business record keeping and so reduce the loss to the Exchequer that stems from poor business records.
	By carrying out tests on the business records, the HMRC officer may identify weaknesses and shortcomings in those records. When such weaknesses/shortcomings are identified they will be highlighted to, and discussed with, the customer and possible improvements may be identified. These checks will not impose a higher level of record keeping requirements than would be appropriate for the size and nature of the business. Identification of record keeping issues may reduce the future cost of compliance for business through issues being identified at an earlier stage with contemporaneous records being reviewed.

Written Questions: Government Responses

David Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to answer Question  (a) 40990 and  (b) 40992, on national insurance, tabled on 10 February 2011 for answer on 14 February.

David Gauke: I have replied to the right hon. Member's questions.

WALES

Departmental Land

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if she will take steps to reduce the size of her Department's estate; and if she will make a statement.

David Jones: The Wales Office occupies a small building in London and half a floor of rented office space in Cardiff. The estate is proportional to the number of staff and while there are currently no plans to reduce this already small estate further, the matter will be kept under review.

Departmental Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 
	(1)  what regulations her Department introduced between 4 February 2011 and 28 February 2011;
	(2)  what regulations her Department revoked between 4 February 2011 and 28 February 2011.

David Jones: None.

CABINET OFFICE

Census: Publicity

David Cairns: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if the Government will allocate part of the budget for the 2011 Census awareness campaign to advertising through community radio stations.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2011:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS) I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking if part of the budget for the 2011 Census awareness campaign will be allocated to advertising through community radio stations (43100).
	As part of the overall census communication and engagement programme, nearly 200 census area managers and community advisors are contacting community and local media to raise awareness of the 2011 Census in England and Wales. Many community radio stations have responded positively, recognising the importance of encouraging their audience to participate, and covering the census in news and editorial features.
	There are no plans to allocate a specific budget for community radio stations. Advertising on local and community channels may be used to further encourage response in specific areas later in the census process. These plans will not be finalised until early return rate patterns are clear.

Departmental Expenditure

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what expenditure  (a) his Department and  (b) each public body sponsored by his Department incurred on engaging external audit services in each of the last three years; and to which service providers such payments were made in each year.

Francis Maude: The Comptroller and Auditor General, supported by the National Audit Office, carries out the external audits of the financial statements of the Cabinet Office and its sponsored bodies.
	The National Audit Office does not charge a fee for auditing the statutory accounts of Government Departments. Departments do, however, recognise a notional audit fee in their accounts as the cost of the National Audit Office is borne by the Exchequer.
	Details of external audit service expenditure reported in the published accounts of the Cabinet Office, and the bodies it sponsors, are as follows:
	
		
			  £000 
			   Year ended  31 March : 
			  Organisation  2010  2009  2008 
			 Cabinet Office (notional fee) 262 242 218 
			 Buying Solutions 76 75 51 
			 Capacity Builders (UK) Limited 32 32 28 
			 Commission for the Compact Limited 6 16 15

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Iran

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the effects on the political situation in Iran of recent arrests of opposition figures; and if he will make a statement.

William Hague: I am deeply disturbed by reports of the ongoing detention of Iranian opposition leaders Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi and their wives. I issued a statement on 1 March calling on the Government of Iran to release both opposition leaders immediately, and on 10 March, the Iranian chargé d'affaires was called into the Foreign Office. While it is not clear what effect their detention has had on the political situation, such acts by Iran are clearly not in line with its international human rights obligations.

Iran

Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Iranian counterpart on respect for the human rights of members of the Bahá'i faith in that country.

Alistair Burt: In 2010, FCO Ministers discussed the unacceptable persecution of the Bahá'is on five occasions with the Iranian embassy in London. British officials continue to raise issues relating to the Bahá'i faith regularly with Iranian officials, including most recently on 10 March.
	We will continue to urge the Iranian Government to respect the rights of the Bahá'is.

Iran

Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the state of the Iranian nuclear programme; and if he will make a statement.

William Hague: We, and our E3+3 partners, are gravely concerned by the Iranian nuclear programme. The latest report from the International Atomic Energy Agency highlights the lack of Iranian transparency over a range of outstanding concerns, including possible military dimensions to its programme. It shows that Iran is enriching uranium in defiance of UN Security Council Resolutions, and has produced 3,606 kg of 3.5% and 43.6 kg of 20% low enriched uranium.

Iran

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the state of the Iranian nuclear programme; and if he will make a statement.

William Hague: We, and our E3+3 partners, are gravely concerned by the Iranian nuclear programme. The latest report from the International Atomic Energy Agency highlights the lack of Iranian transparency over a range of outstanding concerns, including possible military dimensions to its programme. It shows that Iran is enriching uranium in defiance of UN Security Council Resolutions, and has produced 3,606 kg of 3.5% and 43.6 kg of 20% low enriched uranium.

Overthrown Governments: Asset Freezes

John Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the merits of freezing assets of former officials of overthrown governments in the Middle East and North Africa.

David Lidington: The UK worked closely with EU partners to secure an asset freeze in respect of Tunisia and Libya. We are currently discussing measures with EU colleagues in response to requests from the Egyptian authorities to freeze the assets of several members of the former regime.

Camp Ashraf

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the human rights situation in Camp Ashraf, Iraq.

Alistair Burt: We have received reports of residents being denied access to medical care and the intrusive use of loudspeakers at the camp entrance. The UK continues to urge the Iraqi Government's Ashraf Committee to ensure that the residents of Camp Ashraf are treated in accordance with international humanitarian standards.

UK-Zimbabwe Relations

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the state of relations between the UK and the President and Prime Minister of Zimbabwe.

Henry Bellingham: We share Prime Minister Tsvangirai's concerns at the recent increase in politically motivated intimidation and violence in Zimbabwe, in contravention of the spirit of the Global Political Agreement. We urge all parties in the country, including the security forces and the judiciary, to discharge their duties in an impartial manner.

West Bank

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of levels of economic development in the west bank; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The most recent reports from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund show that the west bank economy is performing well, though with significant reliance on external financial assistance.
	We are encouraged by the progress of the Palestinian Authority under Prime Minister Salam Fayyad's leadership in recent years. We commend it for its sound economic management, security improvements and focus on encouraging investment.

North Africa

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in the countries of north Africa; and if he will make a statement.

William Hague: Current changes in the region are among the most significant events of the 21st century; the international community needs to seize this historic opportunity to work with the people and governments of North Africa in support of change. Over the past month Ministers have had regular discussions with North African counterparts to discuss regional issues and reform.

Arms Trade

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he plans to take together with EU partners to strengthen the  (a) guidelines and  (b) operation of the rules on arms sales.

Alistair Burt: The Government believes that the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria governing control of exports of military technology and equipment provides a robust and effective system against which to assess strategic exports. These Criteria reflect Common Position 2008/944/CFSP defining common rules on control of exports by EU member states.
	The UK works actively with other member states through the EU Council Working Group on Conventional Arms Exports (COARM) to ensure best common practice on arms export controls across the EU, and to share best UK practice.

BBC World Service

David Miliband: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the annual cost to the public purse of retaining  (a) short wave radio transmissions of the BBC World Service in the Great Lakes region of Africa and  (b) BBC World Service transmissions in (i) Hindi and (ii) Swahili.

Jeremy Browne: Under the broadcasting agreement between the BBC World Service and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the World Service has managerial independence, except in the case of the opening or closure of a language service. The decision to close the short wave radio transmissions to the Great Lakes region, and in Swahili, has been made by the World Service. These savings are therefore managed within their budget.
	The BBC World Service announced on 7 February 2011 that they would not be ceasing the Hindi short wave broadcasts from April 2011.

BBC World Service

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations British embassies have received on reductions in the BBC World Service.

Jeremy Browne: Our posts overseas and their staff have received a number of representations about the reductions in the BBC World Service. These have been by letter, e-mail and in person.

BBC World Service: India

Jo Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the expected saving to the public purse is of ending BBC World Service transmission of Hindi-language radio broadcasts over the Comprehensive Spending Review period.

Jeremy Browne: On 7 March 2011 the BBC World Service announced that it would retain its Hindi language service on short wave radio for one hour per day for at least one year, while it explored alternative funding options. Its current FM broadcasts of non-news programming, via partners, is unaffected.
	The BBC World Service, has managerial independence and allocates its funds as it considers appropriate. The cessation of the Hindi language short wave radio broadcasts would have been a platform change, rather than a service closure, so did not require consultation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. We therefore do not hold the figures for potential savings.

BBC World Service: India

Jo Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the likely trends in audiences for short-wave radio in India over the next four years.

Alistair Burt: While British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) World Service figures show that the Hindi short wave radio audience has fallen from 19.1 million people in 2007 to 10.9 million in 2010, this figure is expected to stabilise. It is also difficult to capture accurately audience figures when listening is done in groups, as is the case in rural Indian villages.

BBC World Service: India

Jo Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the level of influence of the BBC World Service Hindi radio service in the last five years.

Jeremy Browne: Anecdotal evidence suggests the BBC Hindi service has a high reputation in India. However, BBC World Service figures show that the service's audience for the short wave broadcasts has been falling over the past few years.

British Indian Ocean Territory: Patrol Craft

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who the successful bidder was for the provision of a patrol vessel for the British Indian Overseas Territory.

Henry Bellingham: The successful bidder for the provision of the British Indian Ocean Territory's patrol vessel was Swire Pacific Offshore.

British Nationals Abroad: Terrorism

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what injuries have been sustained by British citizens affected by terrorist activities overseas since January 2002.
	(2)  how many British citizens have been injured as a result of terrorist activities overseas since January 2002.

Jeremy Browne: We collate statistics on British nationals who are reported to us as having been hospitalised, died or been killed overseas. But we do not hold information centrally on the number of those individuals whose death or injury was specifically caused by terrorism.

Colombia

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which occasions his Department has facilitated the travel of trades union officials to  (a) Colombia,  (b) Venezuela and  (c) Cuba in the last 13 years.

Jeremy Browne: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) commissioned ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service), working with the TUC (Trades Union Congress) and the CBI (Confederation of British Industry) to visit Colombia in September 2008. This was an exploratory visit to look into opportunities to provide advice on strengthening labour relations between central and local Government, employers and trade unions in Colombia. We are not aware that the FCO has facilitated any other dedicated visits by UK trade unions to Colombia in the last 13 years.
	We are not aware that the FCO has facilitated any dedicated visits by UK trade unions to Cuba or Venezuela in the last 13 years.
	Trade union officials have regularly visited these countries independently. Where they have shared their plans with the FCO we have sometimes made suggestions for their programmes and met the delegations both in London and in-country.

Council of Europe

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the  (a) function and  (b) remit of the Group of Eminent Persons of the Council of Europe is; when that Group is expected to complete its report on the Living together in 21st century Europe project; what discussions Ministers have had with the Group; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: The Group of Eminent Persons was created in order to prepare the report "Living Together in 21st Century Europe" which will be presented at the Council of Europe Ministerial Session on 11 May 2011. Ministers have had no discussions with the Group of Eminent Persons.

Departmental Procurement

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost to the public purse was of the  (a) procurement and  (b) outsourcing function of (i) his Department and (ii) each (A) agency, (B) non-departmental public body and (C) non-Ministerial Department for which he is responsible in the last financial year for which figures are available.

Alistair Burt: The cost of the procurement function as reported in the back-office benchmarking analysis published by Cabinet Office on 15 December 2010, for the 2009-10 financial year, is £4.51 million for core Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), and £838,000 for FCO Services, and £797,000 for the British Council which are the main arm's length bodies of the FCO.
	The British Council spent £547,592 on outsourcing. For the FCO, FCO Services and the other non-departmental public bodies there are no outsourcing costs of this function.

Developing Countries: Mining

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the European Commission on strengthening due diligence reporting for EU-registered companies working in mineral extraction in developing countries.

Henry Bellingham: holding answer 10 March 2011
	The UK has been working with the UN Group of Experts, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to promote due diligence standards for the extractive industries in the Great Lakes region of Africa. We have not had formal discussions with the European Commission on this issue.
	The UK strongly supports responsible business practices, including due diligence by companies in the extractives sector. The UK supports OECD guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. We commend the hard work of the OECD and the UN Group of Experts, to develop a clear set of due diligence guidelines for the minerals supply chain in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
	We also strongly support the work of the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on drawing up Guiding Principles for business and human rights, which include human rights due diligence.

English Language

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many English language tests were delivered by the British Council in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Jeremy Browne: Over the last five years the British Council delivered the following number of English language exams:
	
		
			   Total number of exams (million) 
			 2009-10 1.2 
			 2008-09 1.1 
			 2007-08 0.9 
			 2006-07 0.8 
			 2005-06 0.7

International Labour Organisation: Finance

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much funding his Department provided to the International Labour Organisation in each of the last four years; and how much such funding he expects to provide in the next four years.

Henry Bellingham: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does not fund UK membership assessed contributions to the International Labour Organisation (ILO); they are paid by the Department for Work and Pensions. Nor does the FCO provide voluntary contributions to ILO headquarters. However, individual FCO Posts have collaborated with ILO field offices using bilateral programme funds to deliver projects in-country. Figures on programme spending channelled via ILO field offices are not collated centrally.

Libya: British Nationals Abroad

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  if he will assess the adequacy of the support and advice given by officials of his Department to  (a) the family of Jennifer Currie and  (b) the case worker of the hon. Member for Sefton Central between 4 and 6 March 2011;
	(2)  if he will examine the advice given by his officials to the family of Jennifer Currie regarding  (a) the booking of and payment for tickets for and  (b) the provision of booking references to Jennifer Currie;
	(3)  for what reasons  (a) the family of Jennifer Currie and  (b) the case worker of the hon. Member for Sefton Central was advised by his officials that Jennifer Currie should make her own arrangements for the repatriation from Libya of her and her family;
	(4)  pursuant to the answer of 7 March 2011,  Official Report, column 659, on Libya and the Middle East, for what reasons the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State does not accept the description by the hon. Member for Sefton Central of events relating to the repatriation of Jennifer Currie and her children;
	(5)  if he will examine the advice given by officials of his Department to  (a) the family of Jennifer Currie and  (b) the office of the hon. Member for Sefton Central on responsibility for payment for a taxi to Tripoli Airport for Jennifer Currie and her family.

Alistair Burt: It is not our usual practice to discuss detailed cases of individuals in public, so I will write privately to the hon. Member.

Overseas Trade

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what bilateral trade agreements the UK has entered into since May 2010.

Edward Davey: I have been asked to reply.
	Since May 2010 the European Union (EU) has entered into a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Republic of South Korea, which was signed by the UK in October 2010 and will come into force on 1 July 2011. Since May 2010 the EU has also launched FTA negotiations with Malaysia and with Mercosur, which comprises Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.

Pakistan: Deaths

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of Pakistan on the death of Salman Taseer; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: In addition to the previous response to the hon. Member on 31 January 2011,  Official Report, column 500W, I have since raised the assassination of the Governor of Punjab with the Pakistan high commissioner.
	Governor Taseer's assassination was a dreadful and cowardly act. Since the hon. Member's last question on this subject, I and officials in Islamabad, alongside partners in the EU, have continued to emphasise the importance of freedom of speech and religious tolerance in Pakistan. To our great regret and sadness, we have also this month witnessed the shocking assassination of the Minister for Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, with whom I have had extensive engagement on these issues over the last nine months. Our high commissioner has raised the need for prompt and effective investigation into this tragic murder with the President, Interior Minister and senior officials of Pakistan. We will continue to work closely with the authorities in Pakistan to ensure religious tolerance and freedom of speech in Pakistan.

Syria: Anti-Semitism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on levels of anti-Semitism in Syria; whether he has made representations to the government of Syria on anti-Semitism in that country; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: Anti-Semitic sentiment is unacceptable whether it occurs in the middle east, in the UK, or anywhere else. The same is true for all forms of racism or xenophobia.
	We are not aware of any significant recent reports of anti-Semitism against the small Jewish community in Syria. We maintain an active dialogue with Syria on human rights issues, including the treatment of minority groups, and are working with our international partners to ensure proper focus on specific human rights cases.

Tibet: Politics and Government

Angie Bray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the Chinese government on the arrests and imprisonment of Tibetans involved in the 2008 protests.

Jeremy Browne: Ministers and officials continue to raise human rights concerns in their discussions with Chinese counterparts.
	We raised the issue of Tibet with the Chinese delegation at the UK/China Human Rights Dialogue in January 2011, expressing concern about the rights and freedoms of the Tibetan people and urging China to renew its dialogue with the Dalai Lama. During the dialogue, we raised a number of individual cases of concern with the Chinese delegation, including those of Tibetans involved in the 2008 riots.

Uganda: Elections

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the recent presidential elections in Uganda; what assessment he has made of the conduct of that election; and if he will make a statement.

Henry Bellingham: 1 received regular reports on each stage of the recent presidential and parliamentary elections in Uganda, including on the conduct of the campaigns and polling day and the outcome of both elections.
	As I noted in my statement of 22 February 2011, the Government fully endorses the preliminary findings of the EU and Commonwealth Observation Missions to Uganda, which noted that while there have been improvements in the overall conduct and transparency of the elections, they were marred by avoidable shortcomings in their organisation. We share the Observer Mission's concern that the power of incumbency was exercised to such an extent as to compromise severely the level playing field between the competing candidates and political parties.
	The Government will encourage all those elected and all Uganda's political stakeholders, including Uganda's Government, political parties and the Electoral Commission to reflect on the assessments of the independent observers, build on positive developments, and address the shortcomings identified in order to strengthen pluralistic, multi-party democracy in Uganda.

TRANSPORT

A14: Road Traffic

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what traffic flow data his Department holds for each section of the A14 in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Michael Penning: The Department for Transport holds data for every section of the A14. The data are collected continuously from automatic traffic counters. The most recent complete month for which data are available is December 2010. Data for December are affected by the seasonal effects of holidays and adverse weather. The average flows for the whole of 2010 are shown in the following tables:
	
		
			  Eastbound 
			  From  To  Average daily flow 
			 M1 J19 A5199 21,937 
			 A5199 A508 22,889 
			 A508 A6 22,638 
			 A6 A43 31,866 
			 A43 A6013 36,796 
			 A6013 A509 34,016 
			 A509 A6003 28,745 
			 A6003 A510 20,453 
			 A510 A6116 20,668 
			 A6116 A45 20,977 
			 A45 A1 20,005 
			 A1 A141 22,514 
			 A141 A1198 33,721 
			 A1198 A1096 33,441 
			 A1096 M11-J14 20,167 
			 M11-J14 B1049 1.6,912 
			 B1049 A1309 30,669 
			 A1309 A1303 22,694 
			 A1303 A11 (W) 18,593 
			 A11(W) A142 33,830 
			 A142 A11(E) 32,706 
			 A11 (E) A1302 21,848 
			 A1302 A1101 16,445 
			 A1101 A143 18,882 
			 A143 A134 22,148 
			 A134 A1088 18,722 
			 A1088 A1308 16,968 
			 A1308 A1120 16,960 
			 A1120 A140 17,309 
			 A140 A1156 23,916 
			 A1156 A12(S) 22,112 
			 A12(S) A137 25,965 
			 A137 A1189 27,481 
			 A1189 A12(N) 22,151 
			 A12(N) A154 16,365 
		
	
	
		
			  Westbound 
			  From  To  Average daily flow 
			 A154 A12(N) 16,763 
			 A12(N) A1189 21,439 
			 A1189 A137 26,741 
			 A137 A12(S) 25,375 
			 A12(S) A1156 23,207 
			 A1156 A140 24,219 
			 A140 A1120 18,346 
			 A1120 A1308 n/a 
			 A1308 A1088 17,476 
			 A1088 A134 20,138 
			 A134 A143 22,041 
			 A143 A1101 14,359 
			 A1101 A1302 20,026 
			 A1302 A11 (W) 21,764 
			 A11 (W) A142 32,852 
			 A142 A11(E) 33,839 
			 A11 (E) A1303 19,053 
			 A1303 A1309 28,918 
			 A1309 B1049 30,888 
			 A14-J31 B1049 n/a 
			 M11-J14 A1096 35,657 
			 A1096 A1198 33,544 
			 A1198 A141 34,669 
			 A141 A1 23,277 
			 A1 A45 19,610 
			 A45 A6116 20,949 
			 A6116 A510 20,927 
			 A510 A6003 20,487 
			 A6003 A509 29,296 
			 A509 A6013 33,937 
			 A6013 A43 32,814 
			 A43 A6 31,691 
			 A6 A508 22,289 
			 A508 A5199 23,072 
			 A5199 M1 J19 21,997

Aviation: Pilots

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many meetings Ministers in his Department have had with representatives of  (a) airlines and  (b) pilots since May 2010.

Theresa Villiers: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 28 February 2011,  Official Report, column 176W, given to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Stephen Lloyd).

Aviation: Working Hours

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Civil Aviation Authority will maintain separate and enhanced flight time limitations for airline pilots following the implementation of the European Aviation Safety Agency's Europe-wide regulations.

Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will establish separate UK flight time limitations for airline pilots following the implementation of the European Aviation Safety Agency's regulations on the same subject.

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Civil Aviation Authority will maintain separate and enhanced flight time limitations for airline pilots following the implementation of Europe-wide regulations by the European Aviation Safety Agency.

Theresa Villiers: The European Aviation Safety Agency published draft legislation for consultation on 20 December 2010. The consultation closes on 20 March. The Civil Aviation Authority is currently reviewing the proposals. We will respond to the consultation once it has completed its review.
	Once EASA's final requirements are adopted as EU law there will be no scope for member states to establish separate national requirements.

Aviation: Working Hours

Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will assess whether changes to pilots' flight time limitations proposed by the European Aviation Safety Agency provide levels of safety equivalent to existing levels.

Theresa Villiers: I refer the hon. Member to my answer given to the hon. Member for Coventry South (Mr Cunningham) of 7 February 2011,  Official Report, column 51W.

Aviation: Working Hours

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the maximum amount of time airline pilots should be expected to fly in one day.

Theresa Villiers: I refer the hon. Member to my answer given to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Stephen Lloyd) on 28 February 2011,  Official Report, column 177W.

Aviation: Working Hours

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effects on safety of the European Aviation Safety Agency's notice of proposed amendment for flight time limitations; whether he has conducted a risk assessment in respect of the agency's current plans to reform flight time limitations; and what factors he will use in determining whether changes to pilots' flight time limitations proposed by the agency provide an appropriate level of safety.

Theresa Villiers: I refer the hon. Member to my answers given to the hon. Member for Coventry South (Mr Cunningham) of 7 February 2011,  Official Report, column 51W, and given to the hon. Member for North Wiltshire (Mr Gray) of 17 February 2011,  Official Report, column 966W.

Aviation: Working Hours

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to review the Civil Aviation Authority's separate and enhanced flight time limitations for airline pilots following the implementation of the European Aviation Safety Agency's Europe-wide regulations in 2012.

Theresa Villiers: Under current EU legislation on flight time limitations member states are permitted to maintain national requirements. However, once EASA's final requirements are adopted as EU law, there will be no scope for member states to establish separate national requirements.

Biofuels: EU Law

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what plans he has to consult on the implementation of the transport elements of the Renewable Energy Directive;
	(2)  on what date the UK will transpose into UK law the sustainability criteria for biofuels as set out in the Renewable Energy Directive.

Norman Baker: I launched consultations on proposals to implement the transport elements of the renewable energy directive, and the greenhouse gas savings requirements of the associated related fuel quality directive, on 10 March. The consultation documents can be found on the DFT website and the consultation period will run until 2 June 2011.
	We expect that, subject to parliamentary approval, legislation completing the transposition of the transport elements of the RED and FQD will come into force from 15 December 2011.

DLR: Olympic Games 2012

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with Transport for London on the contingency measures should the Docklands Light Railway cease operating during the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.

Theresa Villiers: None. The Olympic Delivery Authority has the statutory responsibility for transport planning for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is working closely with Transport for London and other delivery partners on the implementation of a comprehensive Olympic Transport Plan to ensure safe and reliable transport during the Games.

Driving Standards Agency: Cardiff

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has had discussions with the Driving Standards Agency on the identification of alternative accommodation for its Cardiff office within the City of Cardiff; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Penning: Ministers in the Department have regular and productive discussions with the chief executive of the Driving Standards Agency (DSA)
	DSA's Review of Area Office Functions report recommended the closure of the Cardiff office because DSA estimated that the demand for administrative support work in the agency is decreasing.
	The main administrative functions of the DSA are currently undertaken across three sites-Nottingham, Newcastle and Cardiff. The need for administration support will diminish over the next two years in light of an increase in electronic transactions and other business improvements, therefore the agency can operate its administrative functions from two sites rather than three.
	DSA, as a trading fund, is funded by fees paid by customers which need to be set at a level to recover its costs. The agency's duty is to spend that money responsibly, while maintaining a good level of service. That means being as efficient as possible in every area of the agency's work and considering closely any areas of spending which may not be necessary.

Driving Standards Agency: Finance

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding he has allocated to the Driving Standards Agency in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Penning: The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is a trading fund and recovers most of its costs through user charges for its services.
	DSA sometimes receives loans from Department for Transport Central, to support capital investment, as well grants from DFT Central to undertake specific activities, mainly the prevention of fraud. These are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Loans (£)  Grants (£) 
			 2006-07 15 million 800,000 
			 2007-08 30.8 million 3,750,000 
			 2008-09 17 million 5 million 
			 2009-10 6.3 million 5,385,000 
			 2010-11 0 (1)2,714,000 
			 (1) To 31 December 2010.

Driving Tests

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many individuals took the practical driving test in the last 10 years for which figures are available; and how many in each such year failed the number plate test and were required to be examined by the competent medical authority.

Michael Penning: The number of individuals who have taken the practical driving test since April 2004 (the earliest date for which data available), and the number of those who failed to read the number plate and failed the eyesight test, are shown in the table.
	
		
			   Total individuals  Individuals that failed the eyesight test 
			 2004-05 1,077,321 1,032 
			 2005-06 1,140,808 1,101 
			 2006-07 1,121,744 1,014 
			 2007-08 1,143,858 917 
			 2008-09 1,140,691 838 
			 2009-10 1,021,896 739 
			 2010-11 986,921 650 
		
	
	If an eye sight test is failed, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) notifies the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency by faxing a D255 form on the day.
	DSA does not know the number of candidates who were then required to be examined by a competent medical authority after the number plate test failure.

Great Western Railway: Electrification

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the potential effect on the environment of electrification of the Great Western Main Line between Cardiff and Swansea.

Theresa Villiers: The appraisal for electrification of the Great Western Mail Line included an estimation of the impact of changes to carbon emissions, local air quality and noise from running electric powered trains. These potential environmental impacts have been estimated in accordance with the Department for Transport's appraisal guidance, which can be found at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/webtag/

Large Goods Vehicles: Tolls

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what work his Department has undertaken on  (a) consultation and  (b) communication with road users on the introduction of a road user charging scheme for heavy goods vehicles.

Michael Penning: holding answer 14 March 2011
	We have started to discuss our developing ideas informally with interested parties. On 1 February I hosted a 'Listening to Industry' event with representatives from the freight industry. Officials have also held exploratory discussions with the relevant trade associations. We aim to launch a formal consultation later in the year.

Lewes-Uckfield Railway Line

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any plans to reinstate the Lewes to Uckfield railway line; and if he will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: The Government have no plans to reinstate the Lewes to Uckfield railway line at this stage. However, if the local transport authority wishes to prioritise this scheme, the Department will certainly evaluate this line reopening against other projects seeking funding.

Parking: Pedestrian Areas

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  whether he plans to review the legal provisions in respect of pavement parking;
	(2)  what recent representations he has received on pavement parking.

Norman Baker: Local authorities have wide-ranging powers under sections 1 and 2 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act (RTRA) 1984 to make Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) to put in place parking controls, including a prohibition on pavement parking either on a designated length of highway or over a wider area. Authorities must indicate the restrictions with the appropriate signs and the Department has designed new signs for area-wide bans.
	Last month, I wrote to every English traffic authority to remind them of the powers and tools they already have to tackle local pavement parking problems, and to issue them with the special authorisation necessary for the signs referred to above, in order to encourage them to take action where appropriate. A copy of this letter has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
	Representations on this matter were made recently as a result of the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 by:
	(a) Newcastle under Lyme borough council;
	(b) Newcastle upon Tyne council; and
	(c) Birmingham city council.
	The Department has also received recent representations on this issue from Living Streets and receive a small but regular amount of correspondence about pavement parking from members of the public.

Public Transport: Disability

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department has taken to ensure consistent levels of access for disabled people to all forms of public transport.

Norman Baker: I refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer of 4 March 2011,  Official Report, columns 626-27W.

Railways: Construction

Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of hectares of  (a) Grade 1,  (b) Grade 2,  (c) Grade 3a,  (d) Grade 3b,  (e) Grade 4 and  (f) Grade 5 agricultural land expected to be subject to compulsory purchase orders to allow the construction of High Speed 2.

Philip Hammond: The HS2 London to the west midlands 'Appraisal of Sustainability', which was published on 28 February as part of the consultation on high speed rail, estimates that no Grade 1 agricultural land would be affected in order to construct a new high speed tine between London and the west midlands, and that the proposed route would pass across Grade 2 land for some 20 km. At this stage the Government have not appraised the impact on lower grade agricultural land.
	The impact on Best and Most Versatile Land (land at Grades 1, 2 and 3a) would be considered in more detail in the next stage of the project as part of an environmental impact assessment.

Railways: Construction

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the evidential basis is for his calculation that the number of homes on the route of High Speed Two that will be seriously affected by noise has fallen from 350 to 10.

Philip Hammond: The calculation procedure is set out in the 'Appraisal of Sustainability' Technical Appendix 5, which can be found on the high speed rail consultation website at:
	http://highspeedrail.dft.gov.uk/library/documents/appraisal-sustainability

Railways: Exhaust Emissions

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has made an estimate of  (a) the potential carbon dioxide emissions of rail services operating on High Speed Two and  (b) the carbon dioxide emissions of rail services operating on the West Midlands Main Line in the latest period for which figures are available.

Philip Hammond: Both the high speed rail consultation document and the accompanying 'Appraisal of Sustainability' estimate the potential operational carbon dioxide emissions of rail services operating on High Speed Two. Copies of both have been placed in the Library of the House.
	My Department has not estimated the carbon dioxide emissions of rail services operating on the West Coast Main Line.

Railways: Finance

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he gave to announcing his decision on funding for local rail schemes as part of the comprehensive spending review settlement for his Department.

Theresa Villiers: Funding for Local Transport Major Schemes, including local rail schemes, were included within the spending review announcement. Over £1.5 billion will be invested in such schemes by the end of the spending review period.
	In February we announced which schemes would be included in a revised Development Pool, with final funding decisions on these 45 schemes being taken later this year. This pool includes a number of heavy and light rail schemes as well as other public transport initiatives. As part of this announcement we also agreed to fund access improvements at Leeds station.
	We have recently announced support for the extension of the Midland Metro system to Birmingham New Street station.
	We have also introduced the Local Sustainable Transport Fund and Regional Growth Fund, which provide opportunities for funding new local rail schemes.

Roads: Accidents

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many road traffic  (a) accidents and  (b) fatalities there were in (i) Bury St Edmunds constituency and (ii) Suffolk in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many road traffic  (a) accidents and  (b) fatalities there have been on the A14 in Suffolk involving drivers aged under 21 years in each year since 1997.

Michael Penning: The information requested is given in the following tables:
	
		
			  Reported personal injury road accidents and fatalities in Bury St Edmunds parliamentary constituency and Suffolk: 1997 to 2009 
			   (i) Bury St Edmunds( 1)  (ii) Suffolk 
			   (a) Accidents  (b) Fatalities  (a) Accidents  (b) Fatalities 
			 1997 334 9 2,224 43 
			 1998 333 3 2,251 23 
			 1999 296 8 2,298 48 
			 2000 360 9 2,312 56 
			 2001 326 7 2,356 53 
			 2002 315 6 2,300 43 
			 2003 343 7 2,341 60 
			 2004 310 5 2,220 42 
			 2005 308 5 2,237 36 
			 2006 297 5 2,087 47 
			 2007 293 7 2,076 39 
			 2008 279 1 2,061 31 
			 2009 266 3 1,947 42 
			 (1) Based on the 2010 parliamentary constituency boundaries 
		
	
	
		
			  Reported personal injury road accidents and fatalities, involving at least one driver or rider aged under 21 years, on the A14 in Suffolk: 1997 to 2009 
			   (a) Accidents involving  Fatalities in accidents involving 
			   Drivers( 1)  aged under 21  Drivers/riders of other vehicles( 2)  aged under 21  Drivers( 1)  aged under 21  Drivers/riders of other vehicles( 2)  aged under 21 
			 1997 13 2 1 0 
			 1998 17 3 1 0 
			 1999 18 0 1 0 
			 2000 15 1 0 0 
			 2001 17 1 1 0 
			 2002 18 3 1 0 
			 2003 18 4 0 0 
			 2004 21 3 0 0 
			 2005 19 5 0 0 
			 2006 21 0 0 0 
			 2007 14 1 1 0 
			 2008 21 0 0 0 
			 2009 17 1 1 0 
			 (1) Cars, goods vehicles, bus and coach drivers. (2) Includes pedal cycles, motorcycles, other and unknown vehicles. 
		
	
	Figures given in this answer should replace and supersede those given in answer to related parliamentary questions in earlier years. This is a result of recent changes to parliamentary constituency boundaries, and inconsistencies in previously-supplied statistics on accidents involving younger drivers.

Roads: Publications

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what date he expects his Department's report on potential measures to reduce the congestion caused by road incidents to be published; and what the reason is for the time taken to publish the report.

Michael Penning: holding answer 14 March 2011
	We completed a review of motorway closure incidents at the end of January 2011, in line with the Department's business plan commitment.
	We will publish the report shortly and set out our plans.
	We are committed and remain on track to implement the recommendations from the review by December 2012, in line with the Department's business plan.

Roads: Snow and Ice

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been paid to each highway authority for its emergency contribution to the costs arising from adverse weather conditions in the current financial year.

Norman Baker: holding answer 3 March 2011
	In recognition of the abnormal damage caused by the exceptional winter weather at the end of 2010, the Secretary of State for Transport announced on 23 February 2011 that the Department for Transport will be allocating at least £100 million of extra resource funding to local highway authorities in England for repairing potholes.
	The Secretary of State has written to leaders of all local highway authorities setting out the conditions for this exceptional additional funding. For authorities that respond by 16 March 2011 confirming their acceptance of these conditions, we will inform them of their allocations shortly this date. As the damage caused by severe weather was widespread across the country, and in order to minimise administrative burdens for all concerned, we intend to distribute the funds formulaically based on the Department's existing highways maintenance capital funding formula which takes into account road length and condition.
	The extra funding has been made possible because the Department for Transport is expected to deliver a saving on its budget for 2010-11, following tough decisions already taken, including additional efficiencies made this financial year. It remains the responsibility of local highway authorities to prioritise their resources and build in appropriate resilience as part of their overall maintenance programmes.

Rolling Stock

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what date he expects the first new trains to be built under the Intercity Express Programme to be introduced on the rail network.

Theresa Villiers: Subject to the Government continuing to be satisfied that the proposal offers value for money, the first units to be built under the Intercity Express Programme will be tested on the network from 2015 and introduced into revenue-earning service on the Great Western Main Line from 2016.

Speed Limits: Schools

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many schools in  (a) Erith and Thamesmead constituency and  (b) in total are situated in 20 mph zones; and what steps he is taking to encourage more 20 mph limit zones around schools.

Michael Penning: This information is not held by the Department for Transport as local speed limits are the responsibility of individual local authorities. The number of schools situated in 20 mph limit zones will therefore be a matter for the London borough of Bexley. The Department's guidance to local traffic authorities on setting local speed limits was published in August 2006 (DfT Circular 01/2006). A copy has been placed in the Library of the House and is also available on the Department's website. It recommends that local authorities consider introducing 20 mph zones wherever vehicle speeds of 20 mph are desired, including roads around schools.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which unmanned aerial vehicles are approved to fly in all classes of UK airspace.

Theresa Villiers: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave previously on 11 February 2011,  Official Report, columns 446W and 456W, regarding unmanned aircraft in UK airspace.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan: Overseas Aid

David Miliband: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much  (a) the UK and  (b) multilateral organisations have spent on each category of development activity in Afghanistan since 2001.

Andrew Mitchell: Details of the Department for International Development's (DFID's) aid expenditure are published annually in "Statistics on International Development" (SID), which is available in the Library of the House and on the Department's website at
	www.dfid.gov.uk
	Details of DFID's bilateral programme in Afghanistan from 2001-02 to 2009-10 are reproduced in table 1. The UK's imputed share of expenditure by multilateral institutions in Afghanistan from 2001-02 until 2008-09, the last year for which figures are available, is reproduced in table 2. It is not possible to calculate the amount of UK aid spent in Afghanistan through our central funding to non-government organisations without incurring disproportionate cost.
	Funding allocated to each category of development activity by the many multilateral organisations operating in Afghanistan can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Information declared by multilateral organisations on official development assistance (ODA) spending is available on the OECD DAC website at
	www.oecd.org/dac
	
		
			  Table 1: Bilateral programme funding spent on each category of development activity in Afghanistan since 2001-02 until 2009-10 
			  Broad sector  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 Development planning including economic infrastructure, urban and rural development planning - 36,699 91,620 172,853 269,969 6,275,553 2,016,058 10,037,393 31,694,462 
			 Economic Infrastructure including transport, power generation, business support and financial institutions - 1,332,256 2,695,422 1,427,326 3,968,856 3,702,368 3,922,379 5,855,349 10,441,305 
			 Education including primary education support - 15,000,000 30,000,000 11,000,000 7,000,000 10,000,000 11,000,000 12,000,000 12,000,000 
			 Environment protection including climate change - - - - - - - 106,394 3,327 
			 Government and state-building including anti-corruption, legal and judicial development, support for elections, public sector financial management, national and local government administration, human rights, landmine clearance, strengthening civil society, narcotics control and security sector management and reform 3,129,359 28,681,014 66,374,201 40,342,025 42,461,942 47,411,765 64,300,581 71,728,557 40,171,030 
			 Health including basic health care, health education and health policy and administrative management - 15,071,913 30,160,023 11,063,657 7,543,607 10,000,000 11,008,701 12,020,445 12,068,599 
			 Humanitarian assistance including material relief, emergency food aid and relief coordination, protection and support 46,638,573 40,886,230 3,458,142 2,936,107 1,131,769 90,417 1,960,000 14,750,000 6,619,795 
			 Non-sector allocable including support for NGOs, aid to refugees in recipient countries and promotion of development awareness 228,050 3,481,154 5,109,878 4,570,732 490,753 462,524 1,013 12,126 235,263 
			 Production sector including agricultural development and services, small- and medium-sized enterprise development, mineral/mining policy and management, construction policy and management and trade policy and management - - 1,784,797 8,076,414 35,562,964 19,885,144 11,378,063 16,524,838 19,168,081 
			 Research including economic, education, water and sanitation, governance and social development research - 56,471 247 - - 3,396 35,874 517,287 551,172 
			 Social services and infrastructure including social protection and food security programmes - - 8,403 - - - 3,015,187 105,553 29,925 
			 Water supply and sanitation including basic drinking water, waste management and disposal - - - - - 1,000,000 288,522 3,797,409 383,554 
			 Total 49,995,982 104,545,737 139,682,733 79,589,114 98,429,860 98,831,166 108,926,377 147,455,351 133,366,512 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: The UK's imputed share of funding by multilateral institutions in Afghanistan from 2000-01 until 2008-09 
			  £000 
			   2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Funding 8,178 26,968 36,668 33,071 31,166 43,897 34,460 25,181

Democratic Republic of Congo: Overseas Aid

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what humanitarian assistance his Department has provided to the Democratic Republic of Congo in each of the last three years.

Alan Duncan: Details of the Department for International Development's (DFID's) expenditure in developing countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), are published in 'Statistics on International Development', which is available in the Library of the House and online at:
	www.dfid.gov.uk
	DFID's bilateral humanitarian expenditure in DRC from 2007-08 to 2009-10 is as follows:
	
		
			   Amount (£) 
			 2007-08 46,156,000 
			 2008-09 32,778,000 
			 2009-10 40,979,000

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has spent on  (a) salaries and  (b) pension entitlements for special advisers in the financial year 2010-11 to date.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) has spent the following on salaries-including salaries in-lieu of notice-and pension entitlements for special advisers in financial year 2010-11 to date, in respect of the previous and current Governments.
	
		
			   £ 
			 Salary costs 109,732.47 
			 Social security costs 10,649.92 
			 Pension costs 17,340,86

Developing Countries: Business

Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what initiatives his Department is undertaking with businesses to encourage corporate social responsibility in developing countries.

Andrew Mitchell: I refer the right hon. Member to my answer of 10 March 2011,  Official Report, column 1285W, on Business: Ethics.

Developing Countries: International Assistance

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent steps his Department has taken to encourage other governments to provide emergency service personnel to developing countries following a natural disaster.

Alan Duncan: Following natural disasters, many governments offer emergency service personnel as readily as the UK. We therefore do not find that we need to encourage other governments to respond, but we do try and encourage better co-ordination of those emergency service teams that offer assistance. The UK aims to co-ordinate with other European Union member states through the European Commission's Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC), which acts as a focal point for the exchange of requests and offers of emergency service personnel. We also support the rapid deployment of humanitarian experts through providing funding and personnel to the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Co-ordination network (UNDAC). Experts from the UK Fire and Rescue Service also work with the United Nations International Search and Rescue Group (INSARAG), the UN co-ordination body on search and rescue.

Developing Countries: Sustainable Development

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what policy outcomes to promote sustainable development overseas his Department  (a) has developed and  (b) plans to develop following the Green Breakfast meeting with Ministerial colleagues hosted by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs on 8 March 2011; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Duncan: The Green Breakfast meeting is an informal working group, hosted by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, that considers issues related to the coalition Government's commitment to be the "greenest government ever" and operates as a discussion forum on sustainable growth. The Green Breakfast meetings are a forum for dialogue. Cabinet Committees remain in place for policy decisions to be made.

Gaza: Economic Situation

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent steps his Department has taken to promote economic development in Gaza and the West Bank.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) is working closely with the Palestinian Authority (PA), other donors, and businesses to promote economic growth in the West Bank and Gaza. Through our Facility for New Market Development (FNMD) project we are providing financial support and technical advice to Palestinian businesses, helping them compete in new markets, develop new products and re-launch operations. FNMD support has helped Palestinian businesses to achieve $43.9 million in incremental export and local sales, and to create 1,131 jobs.
	In addition, we are also providing funding to stimulate employment in the construction sector by increasing the availability of long-term mortgages. Through investing £14 million between 2010 and 2013, we expect to attract over $500 million of private finance for mortgage lending, leading to the creation of 7,000 construction jobs over five years. We are also supporting the work of the Office of the Quartet Representative to reduce Israeli restrictions on movement and access that increase the costs and risks of doing business and, particularly in Gaza, impede flows of imports and exports.

Iraq: Employment

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent steps his Department has taken to encourage the development of employment opportunities in Iraq.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) is providing direct support for vocational training and higher education, as well as support for improvements to the business environment in order to help stimulate investment and job creation.
	DFID established the Youth Employment Pilot Project (YEPP) in Basra, which provides unemployed young people with up to two months vocational training in a local college followed by up to 10 months employment in a local business. So far, 477 young people have completed their training and are now in work placements. DFID is also funding the British Council's Development Partnerships in Higher Education (DeIPHE) Iraq programme which is helping to strengthen the capacity of higher education institutions throughout the country.
	DFID is supporting the World Bank's Private Sector Development programme to identify and tackle the constraints to private investment. Through support to the International Finance Corporation (IFC) DFID is also helping to increase the competiveness of small and medium-sized Iraqi enterprises through improved access to finance and business skills.
	In Basra, a microfinance project which DFID funded from 2009-11 continues to make loans. It has so far provided loans to more than 1,000 people, which have been used to grow existing businesses and start-up new ones.

Libya: Higher Education

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department has  (a) had any discussions with and  (b) provided any assistance to British universities in securing (i) contracts and (ii) financial support from Libya in the last 10 years.

Andrew Mitchell: Since the appointment of the coalition Government, the Department for International Development (DFID) has had no discussions, or provided any assistance, to British universities interested in trading with Libya.

Poverty

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent steps his Department has taken to increase public awareness of the incidence and consequences of global poverty.

Andrew Mitchell: On 1 March I announced the key outcomes of the Bilateral and Multilateral Aid Reviews and set out the results that UK aid will deliver for the world's poorest people over the next four years. The announcement has been accompanied by a comprehensive communications effort to raise public awareness of the scale of the challenge and the difference that well spent aid makes to people's lives. This achieved widespread coverage across national and regional media and online with the main aid review documents being downloaded over 24,000 times. Communicating via our social media channels, Facebook and Twitter, we reached over four million people. We also engaged with a broad range of stakeholders who have in turn undertaken supportive public engagement activity. We will continue with this communications effort.
	On 19 January DFID launched a review of the use aid funds in the UK to promote awareness of global poverty. I expect the review to be completed by the end of March. Ministers will then look closely at its outcomes and assess the relevance of these activities to the UK's development objectives, in order to determine the future of DFID's development awareness work in the UK.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Carbon Emissions

Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the lifetime carbon dioxide emissions in respect of  (a) construction,  (b) transportation,  (c) installation,  (d) maintenance,  (e) turbine decommissioning of the turbine and  (f) associated engineering work in respect of each (i) Siemens 3.6-107 wind turbine in the Greater Gabbard wind farm and (ii) each Vestas V902-3 MW wind turbine in the Thanet wind farm.

Charles Hendry: The Department has not made a comparison between the lifetime CO2 emissions of Siemens wind turbines in the Greater Gabbard wind farm and Vestas wind turbines in the Thanet wind farm.
	Life cycle analysis conducted by Vestas suggests that the turbines of the type used in the Thanet wind farm will achieve energy payback within seven months, implying that over their lifetime they will produce 35 times more energy than used in manufacture and installation. This is consistent with the range of estimates in the literature on the performance of wind turbines in general. A 2006 note from the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology estimated that offshore wind energy has one of the lowest carbon footprints of any low carbon technology at 5.25g CO2 equivalent/kWh.

Carbon Emissions

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the revised treatment of combined heat and power plant, what assessment he has made of the effects of the carbon price floor mechanism on the international competitiveness of the UK's chemical and petroleum industries.

Gregory Barker: Government are aware of industry concerns about competitiveness impacts from climate change and energy policies including the carbon price floor. This is why the Department for Business Innovation and Skills and DECC are working together on the Energy Intensive Industry Strategy which aims to maximise greenhouse gas reductions in energy intensive sectors while ensuring their future competitiveness. The strategy will include analysis of the estimated energy price and bill impacts for illustrative energy intensive users.
	We are aware that the issue of the role of Combined Heat and Power in energy intensive industries has been raised in the context of HM Treasury's consultation on carbon price support.

Carbon Emissions

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effect of the introduction of a new carbon price floor mechanism on reductions in carbon dioxide levels delivered from combined heat and power plants.

Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change has consulted industry representatives to understand the impacts of a carbon price floor mechanism on combined heat and power plants. DECC is going through this analysis with HM Treasury who lead on the introduction of this mechanism.

Carbon Emissions

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the financial effects on combined heat and power plants of the introduction of a new carbon price floor mechanism.

Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change has consulted industry representatives to understand the impacts of a carbon price floor mechanism on combined heat and power plants. DECC is going through this analysis with HM Treasury who lead on the introduction of this mechanism.
	DECC is also working with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on the Energy Intensive Industry Strategy which aims to maximise greenhouse gas reductions in energy intensive sectors while ensuring their future competitiveness. The strategy will include analysis of the estimated energy price and bill impacts for illustrative energy intensive users. This strategy will be published in the spring.

Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will discuss with UK port companies his simplification review of the carbon reduction commitment energy efficiency scheme.

Gregory Barker: I wrote to the UK Major Ports Group on 20 January offering a meeting and they have recently taken up this offer. A meeting with the UK Major Ports Group will take place next month.

Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  when he expects to conclude the simplification review of the carbon reduction commitment energy efficiency scheme;
	(2)  what priorities he has set for the issues to be considered in his review of the carbon reduction commitment energy efficiency scheme.

Gregory Barker: Feedback to date has led DECC to conclude that priority areas for simplification of the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme include:
	Private (business) sector organisational rules of the scheme
	Review of the CRC supply rules
	Review of the CRC qualification criteria
	Reducing the overlap between schemes (especially between the CRC scheme, Climate Change Agreements and the EU Emissions Trading System)
	Timing and frequency of allowances sales
	However, other aspects of the scheme could also be revisited and stakeholders are welcome to make suggestions for changes to the scheme. In making any such suggestions, it would be particularly helpful if the following aspects of any such suggestions were discussed in submissions to DECC:
	"How your proposals would tackle the four barriers to the uptake of energy efficiency in large organisations (namely, insufficient financial drivers, uncertain reputational benefits of demonstrating leadership, split incentives between landlords and tenants and organisational inertia).
	How your proposals might affect the magnitude of the energy use coverage of the scheme
	How the energy efficiencies/emissions savings associated with your proposals could be verified/audited in a proportionate but effective manner."
	The time scale for ending the simplification review will largely depend on the nature and extent of simplifications suggested. I expect to publish simplification proposals for formal consultation later this year.

Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much additional revenue he expects to receive as a result of the changes he has made to the carbon reduction commitment scheme.

Gregory Barker: The Government decided not to proceed with the recycling of CRC revenues proposed by the previous Administration in order to support the public finances and contribute to the spending plans set out in the spending review. The decision has the additional benefit of creating a clearer price signal in the scheme which participants have asked for.
	The clearer and stronger price signal provided by this change should reduce uncertainty and administrative costs while maintaining energy efficiency measures amongst participants and the commensurate savings in energy bills.
	The OBR's forecasts for revenues from the reformed CRC are available at
	http://budgetresponsibility.independent.gov.uk/econ-fiscal-outlook.html
	
		
			   Forecast 
			 2010-11 0 
			 2011-12 +715 
			 2012-13 +730 
			 2013-14 +995 
			 2014-15 +1,020 
			 2015-16 1,040 
		
	
	A positive figure indicates a saving compared to previous plans, corresponding to the revenue expected to be generated from allowance sales each year.
	HM Treasury's updated costings for spending review 2010 AME measures yet to take effect, based on the OBR's November "Economic and fiscal outlook" can be found at:
	http://budgetresponsibility.independent.gov.uk/d/econ_fiscal_outlook_291110.pdf

Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the effect on UK ports of his Department's carbon reduction commitment energy efficiency scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: Ministers and officials from DECC and the Department for Transport meet to discuss a wide range of energy, climate and transport issues. We do not divulge the content of these internal Government discussions.

Climate Change: International Co-operation

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether the risk of vector-borne diseases infecting the UK blood supply was discussed during his recent discussions at the UN climate change conference in Cancun; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: During the Cancun conference, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, my right hon. Friend for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne), did not have a discussion on vector borne diseases infecting the UK blood supply. However, there were various side events during the meeting that addressed issues of climate change impacts on global health.

Electricity: Prices

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will set out his assessment of the effect on industrial electricity prices of his proposals on electricity market reform in advance of the publication of the White Paper on electricity market arrangements.

Charles Hendry: On 16 December 2010, Government launched consultations on a package of options for reforming the electricity market. An assessment of the estimated impact on industrial electricity prices and bills is set out in the Impact Assessment, which will be placed in the Library, and is based on an illustrative medium-sized non-domestic electricity user.
	The Government will update this Impact Assessment alongside the forthcoming White Paper. The updated assessment will likely include additional analysis looking at the impact of electricity market reform on illustrative energy intensive electricity users.
	The Government also plan to publish findings from their Energy Intensive Industry Strategy in spring. The strategy will likely include analysis on the average impact of energy and climate change policies (including electricity market reform) on the energy prices and bills faced by large energy intensive manufacturing users.

Energy: Heating

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the merits of including hot water efficiency measures in the Green Deal.

Gregory Barker: Green Deal finance will support measures that can be expected to pay for themselves in energy savings over their lifetime and within the period of the finance arrangement.
	Measures that deliver hot water efficiency may be eligible if they deliver sufficient energy savings to pay for themselves and meet wider criteria.
	We are in the process of gathering evidence from industry and other stakeholders on the costs and benefits of a wide range of measures and on how best to formulate eligibility criteria.

Green Climate Fund

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for what reasons the first meeting of the Transitional Committee of the Green Climate Fund was postponed; and what communications  (a) he and  (b) officials in his Department have had with the Secretariat of the UNFCCC to resolve outstanding organisational matters in respect of the Green Climate Fund.

Gregory Barker: The UNFCCC Secretariat informed Parties on 3 March 2011 that the first meeting of the Transitional Committee had been postponed until the latter half of April, without citing a specific reason.
	Officials are in regular contact with the UNFCCC Secretariat on the Green Climate Fund, among other climate change issues, and the UK stands ready to engage actively in the process when it gets under way.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether any  (a) Government departments and  (b) non-departmental public bodies derive revenue from electricity feed-in tariffs.

Gregory Barker: The Feed-in tariffs (FITs) scheme does not preclude anyone from taking part in the scheme. We are unable to report at this time the number of Government Departments and non-departmental public bodies receiving a revenue from FITs. Unaudited numbers received from Ofgem shows no Government Department receiving a FITs and 51 non-departmental public bodies receiving a revenue from FITs.

Solar Power

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the potential for the usage of solar photovoltaics on brownfields to increase  (a) economies of scale on the manufacturing and installation industries and  (b) achievement of carbon reduction targets.

Gregory Barker: This was not part of the modelling exercise undertaken by the previous Administration prior to the implementation of the Feed-in Tariffs (FITs). This will considered as part of the comprehensive review of the scheme.

Solar Power

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he last met representatives from the UK solar photovoltaic industry; and how many meetings he has had with representatives of solar photovoltaic companies since October 2010.

Gregory Barker: Ministers have regular meetings with the solar PV industry where a wide range of topics are discussed.

Solar Power

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his Department's estimate is of the number of jobs created in the solar photovoltaic industry since February 2010.

Gregory Barker: The production capacity of the UK solar photovoltaic market has expanded significantly as a result of the introduction of the Feed-in Tariff. Opportunities in the supply chain have also increased. The solar PV industry reports that jobs in the sector have increased from 3,000 in January 2010 to over 10,000 in January 2011 and are predicted to continue to rise significantly in the years ahead.

Solar Power

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has for the future of solar Feed-in Tariffs; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: The Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) scheme is subject to reviews in which all aspect of the scheme including eligibility of technologies will be considered. The first review of the scheme has now commenced following announcement by the Secretary of State on 7 February 2011,  Official Report, column 2-3WS, and will conclude the end of this year. As part of the review there will be fast-track consideration of solar photovoltaic (PV) projects of more than 50 kilowatts capacity and a short study on farm scale anaerobic digestion (AD).
	We intend to launch the fast-track consultation soon.

Solar Power

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 28 February 2011,  Official Report, column 241W, on solar power, for what reasons the five megawatt definition of small-scale renewables in the Energy Act 2008 is not being applied to solar photovoltaics for the purposes of his Department's Feed-in Tariff review.

Gregory Barker: The Energy Act 2008 defines the maximum capacity (5MW) for the support of small scale low carbon electricity generation under the Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) scheme. FITs are currently available for solar photovoltaics (PV) from 0-5MW. The fast-track review is however only looking at tariffs for solar PV installations in the range 50kW-5MW.

Solar Power

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Ogmore of 28 February 2011,  Official Report, column 241W, on solar power, whether his Department defines any non-solar photovoltaic renewable energy technology with capacity greater than 50 kilowatts as large-scale for the purposes of his Department's Feed-in Tariff review.

Gregory Barker: Under the Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) scheme, tariffs for all technologies vary by capacity. Tariff bands are defined by the total installed capacity in kilowatts or megawatts. Terms such as "large scale" are not used in the legal definitions of tariff bands.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Adult Education

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department's review of adult community learning will include  (a) eligibility for higher-level learning and  (b) access and progression to certificated forms of further and higher education.

John Hayes: holding answer 9 March 2011
	The Adult Safeguarded Learning budget of £210 million pa for informal adult and community learning was protected in the comprehensive spending review. This learning, usually unaccredited, is undertaken for its own sake or as a step towards other learning.
	We are working with stakeholders to develop policies that will deliver the vision described in "Skills for Sustainable Growth". The reforms will not review eligibility for higher-level learning. They do signal our intention that informal learning must help build the Big Society, by delivering learning for personal and community development and motivating disadvantaged groups to progress, including to accredited further and higher education.

Apprentices

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of apprenticeship places in  (a) Southend,  (b) Essex and  (c) Hertfordshire in (i) 2008, (ii) 2009, (iii) 2010 and (iv) 2011 to date.

John Hayes: Table 1 shows the number of Apprenticeship starts in Southend on Sea, Essex and Hertfordshire local education authorities from 2007/08 to 2010/11.
	
		
			  Table 1: Apprenticeship programme starts, 2007/08 to 2010/11 
			   2007/08  2008/09  2009/10  Provisional 2010/11 Quarter 1 (August to October 2010) 
			 Southend on Sea 490 550 640 260 
			 Essex 5,020 5,190 6,410 2,850 
			 Hertfordshire 2,830 2,870 3,320 1,620 
			  Notes: 1. Figures for local authorities are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Figures are based upon the home postcode of the learner. 3. Provisional estimates for 2010/11 are not directly comparable with figures for 2009/10.  Source: Individualised Learner Record 
		
	
	Information on the number of Apprenticeship starts is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 27 January 2011:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current

Apprentices

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many apprenticeship places in Southend West constituency there were in  (a) 2008,  (b) 2009,  (c) 2010 and  (d) 2011 to date.

John Hayes: Table 1 shows the number of Apprenticeship starts in Southend West parliamentary constituency from 2007/08 to 2010/11 August to January (provisional).
	
		
			  Table 1: Apprenticeship programme starts, 2007/08 to 2010/11 
			   2007/08  2008/09  2009/10  Provisional 2010/11 Quarter 1 (August to October 2010) 
			 Southend West Constituency 270 300 300 130 
			  Notes: 1. Figures for parliamentary constituency are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Figures are based upon the home postcode of the learner. 3. Provisional estimates for 2010/11 are not directly comparable with figures for 2009/10.  Source: Individualised Learner Record 
		
	
	Information on the number of Apprenticeship starts is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 27 January 2011:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current

Apprentices: Dartford

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of apprenticeships in Dartford constituency that  (a) will be created in the next 12 months and  (b) were created in the last 12 months.

John Hayes: There were 330 apprenticeship starts in Dartford in 2009/10. The apprenticeships programme is demand-led; the Government do not set targets for apprenticeships but provide funding and forecast the overall number of places that may be afforded. We rely on employers and providers to work together to offer sufficient opportunities to meet local demand.
	This is underpinned by this Government's commitment that by 2014-15 we will have in place sufficient funding for 75,000 more adult apprenticeship places than the previous Government were providing.

Apprentices: Females

Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of apprenticeships in  (a) England,  (b) Berkshire and  (c) Reading West constituency were taken up by women in the last 12 months.

John Hayes: The following table shows the number and percentage of apprenticeship starts by gender for England and Reading West parliamentary constituency for 2009/10, the latest year for which full year data are available. We only hold information at region, local education authority and parliamentary constituency levels of geography.
	
		
			   Female  Male  Total 
			   Count  Percentage  Count  Percentage  Count  Percentage 
			 England 138,640 49.6 141,030 50.4 279,700 100 
			 Reading West 330 56.5 250 43.5 580 100 
			  Notes: 1. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10 apart from total England figures which are rounded to the nearest 100. Percentages are calculated based on unrounded figures. 2. Geography information is based upon the home postcode of the learner. Information on the number of Apprenticeship starts is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 27 January: http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current  Source: Individualised Learner Record

Business: Loans

Paul Uppal: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the potential role of local small business loan funds to provide working capital to small businesses.

Mark Prisk: Community Development Finance Institutions offer loans to small businesses and operate at a local level. In June 2010 the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills published "The National Evaluation of Community Development Finance Initiatives (CDFIs): An Action Oriented Summary for the Sector". This set out information on the rationale and effectiveness of local loan projects in supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Business: Reading Berkshire

Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent estimate he has made of the number of small and medium-sized businesses in Reading West constituency which employed apprentices in the latest period for which figures are available.

John Hayes: Information is not available at parliamentary constituency level on the size of the employer for apprentices.
	The National Employer Skills Survey (NESS) shows a national estimate of the proportion of apprentices employed by employer size. These data are based on repeated surveys of up to 79,000 employers across all business sectors in England. The following table shows information from the published 2009 National Employer Skills survey(1) on the proportion of apprentices employed by the size of employer.
	(1) http://www.ukces.org.uk/upload/pdf/NESS%20main%20report_1.pdf
	accessed on 11 March.
	
		
			  Percentage of apprentices employed by employer size (NESS 2009) 
			   Number of employees of employer  
			   2-4  5-24  25-99  100-199  200-499  500+  Total 
			 Percentage apprentices employed 13 34 23 8 11 10 100 
		
	
	Small businesses are the cornerstone of our economy and high quality training opportunities like Apprenticeships are key to supporting their growth and success. I know that small businesses place great value on an apprenticeship and are prepared to invest in them. Indeed, the National Employer Skills Survey suggests that small and medium sized businesses employ proportionately more apprentices than larger employers.

Citizens Advice Bureaux

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of citizens advice bureaux in  (a) England,  (b) Wales,  (c) Northern Ireland and  (d) Scotland which will close as a result of the outcome of the comprehensive spending review.

Edward Davey: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has a wider interest in the network of local Citizens Advice Bureaux, but funding is a matter for local authorities, not BIS. Funding of bureaux in Northern Ireland is a devolved matter.
	I am aware that local authorities are facing some tough choices and this may impact on bureaux funding and we are working with colleagues across Government with an interest in the Citizens Advice Service to assess the impact but funding decisions have yet to be taken by a number of authorities so the position is not yet clear. But the Government have made it very clear to local authorities that any cuts should not disproportionately impact on the voluntary sector.

Citizens Advice Bureaux

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of people who will use citizens advice bureaux in each of the next four years.

Edward Davey: This Department provides core funding to the national umbrella bodies for the Citizens Advice Service in England and Wales and in Scotland. That funding enables those bodies to provide business services to front-line bureaux through the provision of central IT, information, training and quality assurance and standards.
	Local citizens advice bureaux receive funding from a variety of sources and mainly from the local authority in which they are located. They are all independent charities and the level of funding they are able to attract will determine the level of service they can provide and the number of people able to use the service. But our proposals to transfer the consumer information, advice, education and advocacy functions currently carried out by Consumer Direct, Consumer Focus and the Office of Fair Trading, to the national umbrella bodies should help take pressure off bureaux so they can concentrate on delivering face-to-face advice to those who most need it. In 2009/10, the service in England and Wales helped over two million people resolve their issues through the provision of face-to-face, telephone and online advice.

Citizens Advice Bureaux

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of individuals  (a) working in a volunteer capacity and  (b) in paid employment at citizens advice bureaux in the next four years.

Edward Davey: This Department provides core funding to the national umbrella bodies for the Citizens Advice Service in England and Wales and in Scotland. That funding enables those bodies to provide business services to front-line bureaux through the provision of central IT, information, training and quality assurance and standards. Funding of local bureaux, including for staff and volunteers, is a matter for local authorities.

Citizens Advice Bureaux

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much grant-in-aid will be allocated to the Citizens Advice by his Department in each of the next four years.

Edward Davey: Funding for local Citizens Advice Bureaux is a matter for local authorities, not central Government.
	However, at the national level, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is maintaining its current core funding to the national umbrella bodies for the service in England and Wales and in Scotland (£21.8 million combined) across the spending review period, and under the consumer landscape review we are proposing transferring the consumer information (including Consumer Direct), advice, education and advocacy functions currently carried out by Consumer Focus and the Office of Fair Trading, to the national bodies. Funding will go with these functions but the details have yet to be fully worked through. BIS hope to go out to consultation on these proposals at the end of March.

Company Finance: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses in  (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and  (b) the London borough of Bexley were fined for late filing of accounts with Companies House in the last five years for which figures are available; and in how many such cases the business won an appeal against the fine.

Edward Davey: Companies House does not hold information on companies broken down by parliamentary constituency.

Departmental Responsibilities

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate has been made of the  (a) cost to the public purse and  (b) effect on the number of civil service jobs in his Department of recent changes to the machinery of Government which transferred responsibilities for competition and policy issues relating to media, broadcasting, digital and telecoms sectors to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: In a recent FOI request the Department for Culture Media and Sport said that the IT changes will cost an estimated £280,000 and moving staff and materials £20,000. Whilst it is expected costs will be managed within existing funding levels, we are still in the process of moving staff and discussing budgets.
	Decisions on which staff should transfer are now complete, and all staff transferred on 18 January 2011. As part of its spending review settlement, BIS needs to find financial savings which equate to up to 400 staff exits in 2011/12. The 56 staff who transferred to the DCMS will not affect this number.

English Language: Education

John Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which further education institutions in the London Borough of Waltham Forest provide courses in English for speakers of other languages; and how many learners are registered at each institution.

John Hayes: holding answer 14 March 2011
	There are two providers in London borough of Waltham Forest who provide courses in English for speakers of other languages. Waltham Forest Further Education College is the main provider and in 2009/10 they enrolled a total of 1,292 learners in ESOL provision. In addition, the London borough of Waltham Forest itself also delivers to this client group and in the same period of 2009/10, they enrolled a total of 955 learners.
	For the current year 2010/11 Waltham Forest College has enrolled 1,781 learners on ESOL and the London borough of Waltham Forest has enrolled 1,017.

English Language: Education

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to promote the use of the English language in the UK through the funding of further education courses.

John Hayes: holding answer 14 March 2011
	Responsibility for funding Further Education and Skills is a devolved area of legislation. Further education and training organisations in England that deliver English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) are funded by the Skills Funding Agency, which is an agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. ESOL provision for individuals resident in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and Northern Ireland Assembly respectively.
	From August 2011, full Government funding will be provided for ESOL to unemployed people in receipt of jobseekers allowance or in the Employment and Support Allowance (Work-Related Activity) Group, where English language skills have been identified as a barrier to entering employment We will also continue to pay 50% of ESOL course fees for people who are settled here. We will no longer fund ESOL courses delivered in the workplace as public funding should not be used to substitute employer investment in training. Increased freedoms and flexibilities for providers will allow them to respond to the needs of their communities and determine where their funding is prioritised.

Export Credit Guarantees

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the monetary value to the financial services rector of credit guarantees provided to that sector by the Government in the latest period for which figures are available.

Edward Davey: holding answer 2 March 2011
	Under the Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG), as of 2 March 2011, 32 businesses in the financial services sector have been offered loans with a value of £3.8 million. Of which, 24 loans have been drawn down totalling £3 million.
	However, EFG operates under the Industrial Development Act 1982 which precludes its use to assist or acquire banks and insurance companies. In addition companies attached to insurance companies or that undertake any activity that involves a decision on and/or granting of finance/credit to clients are ineligible for EFG for national policy reasons on the basis that they perform activities of a similar type to banks and insurance companies.
	Companies that are not providers of finance, credit or insurance, or are attached to such providers are eligible for EFG. Further details of the EFG sector restrictions are detailed on the BIS website:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/policies/enterprise-and-business-support/access-to-finance/enterprise-finance-guarantee/efg-business-sectors
	Since April 2009, when the Working Capital Guarantee scheme was launched by the previous Government, the Department has provided guarantees of £2.2 million to Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group on portfolios of commercial loans. These guarantees were priced to break-even guarantee fees of £14.5 million have been received to date and no default payments have been made to the banks.
	In respect of guarantees provided to banks via the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD), there has been no analysis of their economic value to the UK financial services sector.

Export Credit Guarantees

Duncan Hames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills in relation to which countries claims were made against the Export Credits Guarantee Department in respect of export transactions in the last three years; and in each case  (a) which company was the (i) exporter and (ii) the obliger,  (b) what the project was and  (c) what the value of the claim was.

Edward Davey: Claims paid by the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) in respect of new defaults that occurred in financial years 2007-10 are listed as follows:
	
		
			   Country  Exporter  Obligor  Project  Value (£) 
			 2009-10 Mexico -(1) -(1) Copper Processing Plant 458,000 
			 2008-09 Saudi Arabia NIS Ltd EG and G Middle East Company Ltd Motion Handling Equipment 4.1 million 
			 2007-08 Kazakhstan Balfour Beatty International Ltd Ministry of Transport And Communications Road Project 252,000 
			 (1) Details of the exporter and obligor have not been provided for reasons of commercial confidentiality 
		
	
	No claims in respect of new defaults have been paid to date in the current financial year.
	Details of potential (i.e. currently under examination) claims payments in respect of new defaults have not been provided for reasons of commercial confidentiality.
	ECGD also made payments in the last three years on claims in respect of defaults that occurred before 2007-08, largely relating to defaulted airline cases. These payments are made as maturities fall due under the relevant export credit loans (and remain unpaid), so can continue for many years after the year in which the claim was originally made.

Further Education

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which further education colleges undertook capital works of a monetary value of more than £1 million in the last 10 years; and which such projects attracted a zero rate of value added tax in respect of  (a) less than 10%  (b) between 11% and 50%  (c) between 51% and 90% and  (d) 91% or above of the monetary value of the project.

John Hayes: Capital funding for further education colleges is administered by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA).
	In his letter to my hon. Friend of 8 February 2011, the chief executive of the SFA stated that, of the 505 projects for which he had relevant VAT information, 35 further education colleges had undertaken works in excess of £1,000,000 and had attracted a zero rate of VAT (wholly or partially). A list of these colleges is provided as follows.
	The additional detailed information you request is not held by the SFA, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The issue of whether VAT is payable on project costs, and at what rate, is a matter for the individual college concerned to establish with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.
	 FE Colleges:
	Boston College, Lincolnshire
	Broxtowe College (now called Castle College)
	Bury College
	Canterbury College
	City and Islington College
	City College Birmingham
	City of Sunderland College
	City of Wolverhampton College
	Derby College
	Halesowen College
	Henshaws Society for the Blind
	Highbury College
	Lambeth College
	Lewisham College
	Lincoln College
	Matthew Boulton College (now called Birmingham Metropolitan College)
	National Star College
	New College Nottingham
	Newcastle Under Lyme College
	North Lindsey College
	North Nottinghamshire College
	Northampton College
	Royal National College for the Blind, Hereford
	Royal School for the Deaf
	Salford City College
	South Staffordshire College
	Stoke on Trent College
	Strode College
	The Manchester College
	Trafford College
	Tresham Institute
	Truro College
	Walford and North Shropshire College
	Warwickshire College
	Wigan and Leigh College
	Total: 35

Further Education: Business

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the proportion of further education colleges that have carried out zero-rated capital works which have made use of the statutory concessions permitting up to 5% business use in the last 10 years.

John Hayes: Further education colleges are independent organisations responsible for the management of their own estates and the delivery of their own programmes and services. Neither the Department nor the Skills Funding Agency collects or holds information pertaining to the proportion of further education colleges that have made use of the statutory concessions in relation to zero-rated capital works.

Higher Education: Admissions

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects the Advocate for Access to Education to publish his report on access to higher education; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: The Advocate for Access to Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Bermondsey and Old Southwark (Simon Hughes), expects to publish his report at the end of June 2011.

Higher Education: Finance

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department has  (a) had any discussions with and  (b) provided any assistance to British universities in securing (i) contracts and (ii) financial support from Libya in the last 10 years.

Mark Prisk: The Department has generally promoted the capabilities of the UK academic and training sectors in its dealings with Libya. However no specific discussions have taken place on securing financial support from Libya for British educational institutions.
	Exhibition support has been provided to universities at a number of trade exhibitions in Libya in the last 10 years. However we are not in a position to determine exactly what additional activity resulted from the support or confirm any contracts won.

Higher Education: Radicalism

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the answers to the hon. Member for Tottenham of 30 November 2009,  Official Report, columns 557W and 560W, on higher education: radicalism, if he will take steps to collect and hold centrally information on  (a) (i) instances and (ii) suspected instances of extremism reported by university staff as taking place on campus and  (b) funding received by campus research centres from non-democratic governments.

David Willetts: Universities are not required to report information about instances and suspected instances of extremism on campus to this Department. They will, in practice, usually report these to their local Police who will hold this information. We do not have any plans for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to collect and hold this information routinely.
	Higher education institutions (HEIs) are autonomous and each will set its own standards for the acceptance of donations. As charities, all English HEIs should take note of general guidance, including guidance about receipt of donations, from the Charity Commission and any additional guidance from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (particularly in its role as principal regulator under the Charities Act 2006).
	The allocation of public funding for teaching and research is separate from the regulation of universities as donation-accepting charities and the Department has no plans to change this.

Institute for Learning

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what meetings Ministers and officials of his Department have had with representatives of the Institute for Learning on  (a) continuing professional development for further education lecturers,  (b) further education policy and  (c) the removal of funding by his Department for the Institute for Learning.

John Hayes: I met with the chief executive and chair of the Institute for Learning (IfL) on 8 September 2010 and we plan to meet again in the near future. My discussions with IfL have covered a number of areas including the take-up of continuing professional development activities by FE teachers, broader areas of interest to the profession, and IfL's plans to move to full self-funding through membership fees.
	My officials meet with IfL staff on a regular basis to discuss a range of issues. The Department has an observer status seat on the IfL Non-Executive Board and attend its Advisory Board.

Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what regulations his Department introduced between 24 November 2010 and 8 February 2011.

Mark Prisk: Between 24 November 2010 and 2 March 2011, BIS introduced 26 regulations through statutory instrument. Of these, only three impose a substantive cost on business.

Vans: Manufacturing Industries

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with representatives of General Motors on the manufacture of a new model of van at its Luton plant;
	(2)  what recent assessment he has made of the competitiveness of the UK van manufacturing sector.

Mark Prisk: The Department keeps the competitiveness of the automotive sector (including van production) under regular review, although no specific assessment of the competitiveness of the UK van manufacturing sector has been made recently. I understand that the van manufacturing site at Luton remains one of GM's most efficient and productive plants in Europe and the Department is in close contact with GM's senior management on a range of issues; including in relation to Luton.

Vocational Guidance

Marcus Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with representatives of  (a) further education colleges and  (b) sixth form colleges on the development of an all-age careers service.

John Hayes: Representatives of further education colleges and sixth form colleges, including the Association of Colleges and the Sixth Form College Forum, gave evidence to the Public Bill Committee for the Education Bill recently.
	Discussions about clause 27 of the Education Bill, which introduces a requirement on schools to secure access to independent careers guidance, included debate about the development of the all-age careers service. In my discussions with colleges since becoming Minister I have discussed the all-age careers service, which the Government are introducing, on numerous occasions.

Window Blinds: Safety

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2010,  Official Report, column 529W, on window blinds: safety, what the outcomes were of the safety seminar convened by his Department on 27 September 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: The seminar aimed at major retailers was to raise awareness of the potential risks looped blind cords can pose in the domestic environment. It also advised them of the relevant product standard for internal blinds: European Standard BS EN 13120:2009 (Internal Blinds-Performance Requirements Including Safety) which details appropriate safety precautions regarding internal window blinds. A follow-up seminar was held at RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) in Birmingham on 29 November 2010. Both events were a success, with attendees signing up to the British Blind and Shutters Association's (BBSA) 'Make it Safe' campaign.

Window Blinds: Safety

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2010,  Official Report, column 529W, on window blinds: safety, what recent progress has been made on the standardisation process; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: On 9 February the Commission adopted a Decision on the safety requirements to be met by the revision to European standard BS EN 13120:2009 to address certain risks posed to children by internal blinds, corded window coverings and safety devices. We expect this to be published in the  Official Journal of the European Union shortly. The UK has been instrumental in the European Standards Committee in ensuring that the revised standard covers all internal blinds and is robust regarding child safety. Work on this is progressing, and we hope to see a revised standard in 2012.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to answer question 42088, on regulations, tabled on 16 February 2011 for answer on 28 February 2011.

Mark Prisk: I have replied to the hon. Member today.

HEALTH

Arthritis: Health Services

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that people diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis are referred to a specialist at an appropriate time in respect of diagnosis and follow-up appointments and during flare-ups.

Paul Burstow: It is for clinicians in primary and secondary care to make referrals appropriately, and for commissioners to ensure that they have commissioned sufficient clinical capacity to allow timely access to first or follow-up appointments. Primary care trusts and, in future, general practitioner (GP) consortia should be working with local service providers to ensure the correct capacity is available to provide the best evidence based care for their patients.
	The Department expects local health communities to be mindful of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance when commissioning services for people with rheumatoid arthritis. A NICE commissioning guide "Services for the diagnosis and management of rheumatoid arthritis in adults" was published in December 2009 to assist commissioners in implementing "NICE Clinical Guideline 79: the management of rheumatoid arthritis in adults locally", including consideration of access to care for people with established rheumatoid arthritis.

Arthritis: Health Services

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the need for co-ordination between local authorities, the national health service and social care services to ensure that services for people diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis are fully integrated.

Paul Burstow: The Department has not made any specific assessment of the need for co-ordination between local authorities, the national health service and social care services to ensure that services for people diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are fully integrated. However it has established a dedicated national work stream on improving the care of all people with long term conditions (including RA) within the Quality Innovation Productivity and Planning programme.
	It is currently the responsibility of primary care trusts (and general practitioner consortia in the future) as commissioners of healthcare services to ensure that their populations have access to the services that they require. Primary care professionals need to ensure the services that patients receive are co-ordinated, helping them to navigate the system and ensure they get the best care through shared decision making. The Health and Social Care Bill enables GP consortia to work collaboratively on commissioning. Commissioners will have greater scope to develop integrated care pathways where this makes sense, working with a range of local clinicians, and new health and well-being boards will promote integration across the NHS, social care and public health.
	The Department expects local health communities to be mindful of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance when commissioning services for people with rheumatoid arthritis. A NICE commissioning guide "Services for the diagnosis and management of rheumatoid arthritis in adults" was published in December 2009 to assist commissioners in implementing "NICE Clinical Guideline 79: the management of rheumatoid arthritis in adults locally", including consideration of access to care for people with established rheumatoid arthritis.

Arthritis: Health Services

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department plans to encourage the sharing of good practice in rheumatoid arthritis services provided by different groups of commissioners; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: The Health and Social Care Bill provides for consortia to work collaboratively on commissioning. The NHS Commissioning Board will support general practitioner (GP) consortia in their commissioning decisions and provide leadership for quality improvement through commissioning. This will include setting commissioning guidelines on the basis of clinically approved quality standards developed with advice from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and in the case of rheumatoid arthritis, in a way that promotes joint working and sharing of good practice across health, public health and social care.
	A NICE commissioning guide "Services for the diagnosis and management of rheumatoid arthritis in adults" was published in December 2009 to assist commissioners in implementing "NICE Clinical Guideline 79: the management of rheumatoid arthritis in adults" locally, including consideration of access to care for people with established rheumatoid arthritis.

Arthritis: Health Services

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to ensure that GP consortia have the appropriate skills and knowledge to commission services for people diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis which develop their ability to self-care and manage their pain on a day-to-day basis.

Paul Burstow: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published the commissioning guide "Services for the diagnosis and management of rheumatoid arthritis in adults" in December 2009. This is intended to assist commissioners in local implementation of "NICE Clinical Guideline 79: the management of rheumatoid arthritis in adults", including consideration of access to care for people with established rheumatoid arthritis.
	By devolving power and responsibility for commissioning services to local consortia of general practitioner (GP) practices, we will ensure that commissioning decisions are taken at a level as close to patients as possible. The Health and Social Care Bill provides for consortia to work collaboratively on commissioning by, for example, entering into lead commissioner and pooled budgetary arrangements.
	The Bill also provides for the establishment of the NHS Commissioning Board to support GP consortia in their commissioning decisions and to provide leadership for quality improvement through commissioning. Activities will include the issue of commissioning guidelines which reflect NICE quality standards developed with advice from clinicians and that promote joint working across health, public health and social care. The Board will also promote and extend public and patient involvement and choice.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Health Services

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to establish specialist myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome services in parts of the country where there are none.

Paul Burstow: It is the responsibility of local health bodies, which have a comprehensive knowledge of their local populations, to commission services for people with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis, taking into account the resources they have available, the needs of their wider population, and available guidance on best practice.

Departmental Land

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to reduce the size of his Department's estate; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The Department has recently agreed its estate strategy for its core headquarters estate, which will be to reduce the number of buildings in London from four to two by the end of 2012. The Department will also continue to occupy its Leeds office, Quarry house and our plans here are to maximise the space available in Quarry house for use by a number of our non-departmental public bodies.

Departmental Public Consultation

Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many public consultations his Department has conducted in each of the last 10 years; for how long each consultation was open; how many responses were received to each consultation; and what the cost to the public purse was of conducting each consultation.

Simon Burns: A table that details the Department's consultations launched from 2002 onwards, and their period of duration has been placed in the Library.
	The Department does not hold information about the number of responses to each consultation or the costs of conducting public consultations centrally. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Written Questions

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of written questions tabled to him for answer on a named day between 27 May 2010 and 9 March 2011 did not receive a substantive answer on the day named for answer.

Simon Burns: The Department received 799 written questions due for answer on a named day between 27 May 2010 and 9 March 2011. Of those, eight questions or 1% were not answered substantively on the day named for answer.

Drugs: Rehabilitation

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to the NHS pharmaceuticals budget of prescribing  (a) buprenorphine and  (b) subutex was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Simon Burns: Net ingredient cost (NIC) prescribing figures are provided in the following table.
	
		
			  NIC of prescription items written in the United Kingdom and dispensed in the community in England-12 month period October 2009 to September 2010 
			   £000 
			 Buprenorphine 60,139.0 
			 Subutex 6,656.3 
			  Notes: 1. Figure for buprenorphine includes buprenorphine and naloxone combination products. 2. Subutex is a brand name for a form of the chemical buprenorphine. 3. Figure for subutex is included in the figure for buprenorphine.  Source: Prescription cost analysis system.

Eyesight: Testing

Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of people entitled to a free annual eye test used their entitlement in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Simon Burns: The "General Ophthalmic Services Activity Statistics for England and Wales", published by the NHS Information Centre, showed that in England there were 11.8 million national health service funded sight tests in 2009-10. The statistics published by the NHS Information Centre provide a breakdown of these figures by eligible groups.
	The statistics do not allow us to say precisely what proportion of people eligible to receive a free annual eye test used their entitlement.

Food: Packaging

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the effects on human health of mineral oils present in food packaging.

Anne Milton: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is not aware of any evidence that mineral oils in food packaging present a significant food safety concern for consumers.
	This position is supported by a FSA study carried out in 2003 on the migration of mineral oils from food packaging into food.
	The FSA is currently undertaking a surveillance programme to study the migration of printing inks into food and the levels of mineral oils in carton board packaging material.
	The FSA continues to review evidence in this area and will act to protect consumers if the evidence shows it is necessary to do so.

Food: Packaging

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment has been made of the health effects of the use of recycled card in food packaging.

Anne Milton: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is not aware of any evidence that food packaging made from recycled card presents a significant food safety concern for consumers.
	This position is supported by a FSA study carried out in 2002 on the migration of inorganic contaminants in recycled paper and board in contact with dry food.
	The FSA is currently undertaking research to gain knowledge of substances that should be effectively removed by recycling, to ensure that the recycling process has been properly carried-out.
	The FSA continues to review evidence in this area and will act to protect consumers if the evidence shows it is necessary to do so.

General Practitioners: Pharmacy

Steven Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will bring forward proposals to remove the one mile residency requirement applying to pharmaceutical dispensaries operated by GP surgeries.

Simon Burns: In the autumn of 2008, the previous Administration consulted on various proposals arising from its pharmacy White Paper "Pharmacy in England-building on strengths, delivering the future", which was published in April 2008. The consultation included proposals for revision to the current NHS (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2005, which govern whether or not doctors may provide dispensing services to their patients. As a result of that consultation, the previous administration announced in December 2008 that there would be no change to those regulatory arrangements.
	As with all matters, we keep the operation of regulations under regular review. There are no plans to bring forward any such proposals at this stage.

Health Centres: Harrow

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of walk-in centres and polyclinics in the London borough of Harrow in meeting patient need; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: It is the responsibility of the local national health service to assess the effectiveness of the services it provides and ensure that appropriate services are accessible to its local population.

Hospitals: Berkshire

Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many healthcare-acquired infections there were in each NHS facility in Berkshire in each of the last 10 years.

Simon Burns: Information on all healthcare associated infections is not collected centrally. The best available information is from the Department's mandatory surveillance system. This collects data on the methicillin-resistant "Staphylococcus aureus" bloodstream infections (bacteraemias); "Clostridium difficile" infections; glycopeptide-resistant enterococci bacteraemias (GREs); and selected orthopaedic surgical site infections. Data for Berkshire trusts are given in the tables that have been placed in the Library. Mandatory surveillance data for GRE bacteraemia are not included owing to inconsistent reporting of this infection.

Meals on Wheels

Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to safeguard the meals on wheels service.

Paul Burstow: Local councils are responsible for assessing the need for community based services, including meals on wheels, in their areas. Councils are free to determine how best to meet the needs of their populations; they pay for services out of their general funds, which are derived from funding from central Government and local taxation. Funding from central Government, via the Formula Grant paid to local councils, is not ring-fenced for spending on specific services, such as meals on wheels.
	In recognition of the pressures on the social care system in a challenging fiscal climate, the Government have allocated an additional £2 billion by 2014-15 to support the delivery of social care. With an ambitious programme of efficiency, there will be enough funding available both to protect people's access to services and deliver new approaches to improve quality and outcomes.

Medicine: Research

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the merits of establishing a health research agency as recommended by the Academy of Medical Sciences review on the regulation and governance of health research.

Simon Burns: National regulation and local governance of health research are too complex and scattered across too many different bodies.
	The report of the Academy of Medical Sciences review of medical research regulation and governance makes the case for simplification under a health research agency that will streamline and co-ordinate regulatory and governance processes.
	The Government welcome the report and are carefully considering how to implement its recommendations.

Medicine: Research

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the merits of establishing key performance indicators for research activity in the next NHS Operating Framework as recommended by the Academy of Medical Sciences review on the regulation and governance of health research.

Simon Burns: National regulation and local governance of health research are too complex and scattered across too many different bodies.
	The Government welcome the report of the Academy of Medical Sciences and is carefully considering how to implement its recommendations.

Mental Health Services

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what audits his Department has carried out of primary care trusts (PCTs) which received Government funding ring-fenced for the provision of improved access to psychological therapy (IAPT) services to determine whether such PCTs removed funding from non-IAPT services which were to have been replaced by IAPT;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the role of improved access to psychological therapies as  (a) an addition to and  (b) a substitute for existing mental health services; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what guidance he issued to primary care trusts on continued commissioning of non-improved access to psychological therapy (IAPT) services when IAPT services were introduced; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what range of therapies his Department expects to be included within the designation of improved access to psychological therapy;
	(5)  what assessment he has made of the extent to which pre-existing mental health services have been discontinued on the grounds that improved access to psychological therapy has superseded them; and which services have been discontinued.

Paul Burstow: The Department, through strategic health authorities, has monitored the use and application of growth funds allocated to develop Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services as part of comprehensive spending review 2007. This has been supported by commissioning guidance to primary care trusts (PCTs) aimed at ensuring that this investment has been used in addition to rather than substituting for related services. However, the Department does not hold this information centrally. Decisions about the range of services available to meet the needs of each area are the responsibility of local commissioners.
	A total of 3,660 additional therapists and psychological well-being practitioners have started or completed IAPT-funded training since October 2008. Nearly 491,000 people have been seen by IAPT services between October 2008 and December 2010, with more than 243,000 completing treatment and a recovery rate of around 40%. More than 18,000 of the people treated have come off sick pay and benefits, who would not otherwise have been able to.
	IAPT services are intended to complement and supplement a range of existing mental health services by providing primary and community based National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) approved treatment to people with depression and anxiety disorders. Historically, around 85% of adults experiencing these conditions have received no national health service support and IAPT is making good progress in addressing this problem.
	At the start of the programme, it was envisaged that IAPT services would be additional to any psychological therapy services already in place, but this is a matter for the local NHS to determine in the light of its assessment of local need. Commissioning guidance to PCTs has been issued to ensure IAPT is delivered as an additional service rather than a replacement for existing services.
	The IAPT programme exists to help the NHS put in place the evidence-based therapies approved by the NICE for treating depression and anxiety disorders. NICE approves cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), counselling, couple therapy, interpersonal therapy (IPT) and brief dynamic therapy for mild to moderate depression; CBT and IPT for moderate to severe depression; and CBT for all anxiety disorders.

Mental Health Services: Ex-servicemen

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mental health nurses mental health trusts have recruited for the purposes of treating ex-service personnel in the last six months; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: The Government have made additional funds available from 2011-12 to allow the recruitment of 30 whole-time equivalent additional professionals to better meet the mental health needs of veterans. There is now an armed forces network in each English region and these networks, will determine in detail how these additional staff are to be deployed, to deliver better mental health care to the armed forces, their families and veterans.

Mental Illness: Ex-servicemen

Hazel Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the  (a) number of and  (b) cost to the public purse of the treatment of ex-servicemen and women diagnosed with mental health issues in 2010.

Paul Burstow: There are estimated to be 5 million veterans in the United Kingdom. They make use of national health service care like any other member of the population and are not necessarily identified as veterans when they do so. It is therefore not possible to estimate either the number or costs involved. The Government recently announced a package of measures aimed at encouraging recent service leavers to access mental health services when they need them at a cost of £9.2 million over the next four years.

Musculoskeletal Disorders: Health Services

Heather Wheeler: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much his Department spent on problems of the musculoskeletal system in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how much  (a) his Department and  (b) the NHS spent on problems of the musculoskeletal system in each cost category in 2009-10.

Paul Burstow: Total departmental expenditure on problems of the musculoskeletal system is available from estimated programme budgeting data for England. These data have been placed in the Library. Departmental expenditure includes expenditure incurred by primary care trusts, strategic health authorities and some special health authorities.
	Further breakdown of expenditure on musculoskeletal conditions by cost category is not available from programme budgeting data.

NHS: Finance

Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's annual spend per head of population was in  (a) Dudley and  (b) Wolverhampton primary care trust area in the most recent financial year for which figures are available.

Simon Burns: The amounts spent per head of population in 2009-10 by Dudley primary care trust (PCT) and Wolverhampton PCT are shown in the following table. 2009-10 is the most recent financial year for which figures are available.
	
		
			  2009-10 
			  Organisation  £ 
			 Dudley PCT 1,638 
			 Wolverhampton PCT 1,832 
			  Notes: 1. "How much his Department spends" has been interpreted as meaning the total revenue expenditure of the PCT (the net operating costs). 2. The net operating cost is taken from the audited summarisation schedules of South Staffordshire PCT for 2009-10. This figure is divided by the PCT's resident population to derive the spend per head figure.

NHS: Management Consultants

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much each of the sector primary care trusts in London has spent on consultancy services since their inception;
	(2)  how much NHS London and its sector primary care trusts have spent on consultancy services in financial year 2010-11.

Simon Burns: This information is not collected centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact the organisations directly to obtain consultancy spend figures.

Nutrition: Flour

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the recommendations of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition on the refortification of wheat flour; and when he plans to issue guidance on that matter;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the recommendations by the Food Standards Agency that all flour be fortified with folic acid.

Anne Milton: The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) and Food Standards Agency Board has recommended mandatory fortification of wheat flour with folic acid in the United Kingdom, with controls on voluntary fortification and guidance on the use of supplements, as an effective measure to prevent pregnancies affected by neural tube defects. UK chief medical officers are currently giving the report and its recommendations on mandatory folic acid fortification their full consideration before advising Health Ministers. A decision on such an important public health intervention must be based on good science, independent advice provided by SACN, and balance the benefits as well as any potential risks.

Obesity: Children

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the proportion of his Department's expenditure on tackling childhood obesity in 2010-11 to be spent on sport or physical recreation in 2010-11.

Anne Milton: In 2010-11, the Department transferred £10 million to the Department for Transport to support its work to promote cycling. £650,000 has been spent on initiatives to encourage walking. This is approximately 30% of the Department's total obesity budget.
	In addition, there has been further expenditure within this budget on programmes such as the Healthy Towns programme and the Change4Life campaign which aim to support people to become more active as well as promoting healthy eating.

Respite Care: Parents

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what respite care his Department provides for parents of disabled and violent children.

Paul Burstow: The Government launched "Recognised, valued and supported: Next steps for the Carers Strategy" in November 2010. This sets out a framework for supporting the carers of both adults and ill and disabled children. As part of this £6 million of new funding has been made available to train general practitioners to identify and support carers and an additional £400 million has been announced to proved breaks for all carers, including carers of ill and disabled children.
	The Department has worked with the Department for Education on a number of aspects of the Green Paper "Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability - A Consultation" published on 9 March. This outlines the ambition to provide ongoing respite care and short breaks for children to help families cope with their day-to-day caring responsibilities.
	In December 2010, the Department for Education announced that it will provide over £800 million through the early intervention grant (EIG) to support short breaks for disabled children over the spending review period (£198 million in 2011-12; £202 million in 2012-13; £206 million in 2013-14; and £210 million in 2014-15). This figure represents a small increase in the levels of funding which were provided to local authorities for this activity in 2010-11, and includes the previously announced funding to be provided from child trust fund money.
	Up to £30 million was made available in 2010-11 to the children's palliative care sector, which plays an important part in the provision of respite to families of children with disabilities. Among the successful projects funded were several relating to respite care.
	More generally, the Government have committed to reducing the ring fences around central Government funding to allow local areas more autonomy and flexibility to prioritise and determine which services can be funded for families with disabled children, including parents of disabled and violent children.

Ritalin: Misuse

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to reduce the incidence of misuse by adults of ritalin prescribed for children with ADHD as a recreational drug.

Simon Burns: The Government recognise the dangers posed by diversion of controlled drugs such as methylphenidate (Ritalin) in the community. That is why methylphenidate is subject to strict conditions under schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001.
	It is the responsibility of prescribers to ensure that any medication prescribed is sufficient to meet the clinical circumstances of individual patients and is being used appropriately. The situation should be kept under review to ensure that the patient is benefiting from the treatment.

Streptococcus: Screening

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 7 March 2011,  Official Report, column 907W, on streptococcus: screening, what steps he plans to take to reduce the incidence of group B streptococcus.

Anne Milton: The Department supports the 'Standards for Maternity Care' published by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) in 2008, which state that maternity services should comply with evidence-based guidelines for the provision of high-quality clinical care.
	We encourage the national health service to take into account the guidance for obstetricians, midwives and neonatologists provided by the RCOG which published its Green-top guideline No.36 on the prevention of early-onset neonatal Group B Streptococcus disease in November 2003.
	The Department has asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to produce a clinical guideline on the use of antibiotics for the prevention and treatment of early onset neonatal infection. One of the relevant infections is Group B Streptococcus. The guideline is currently under development.

Surgery: Waiting Lists

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the average waiting time is for cataract treatment  (a) in each region and  (b) as measured by the OECD; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the average waiting time is for cataract surgery for a second eye; and what information his Department holds for international benchmarking purposes on the average such waiting time in other OECD countries.

Simon Burns: The average (median) waiting time for cataract treatment in each strategic health authority (SHA) is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Median waiting time (days) for cataract surgery treatment, from decision to admit to admission, by SHA of commissioner in 2009-10 
			   Days 
			 North East 49 
			 North West 59 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 58 
			 East Midlands 49 
			 West Midlands 63 
			 East of England 55 
			 London 48 
			 South East Coast 74 
			 South Central 73 
			 South West 65 
			 England 57 
			  Notes: 1. 2009-10 is the latest period for which confirmed data are available. 2. Data include finished admission episodes with a main procedure or primary medical diagnosis of cataract surgery treatment.  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), the Information Centre for Health and Social Care 
		
	
	Data on waiting times for cataract surgery for a second eye are not held centrally. There is no mechanism to extract data relating to a previous procedure from HES and therefore the time waited between the completion of cataract surgery on the first and second eye.
	The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Health Data statistics and indicators do not include current comparative information on waiting times for cataract treatment and the Department does not hold information on waiting times for cataract surgery for international benchmarking purposes.

Urology: Nurses

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many stoma care nurses there were in the NHS in  (a) 2001,  (b) 2006 and  (c) the most recent year for which figures are available.

Anne Milton: The information requested is not collected by the Department.